Matthew Keith Towers charged over dangerous driving on Bruce Highway

Bruce Highway motorists called triple-0 operators saying they believed a driver want others to crash into him. Read here what he was doing.

Bruce Highway motorists in fear of an alleged dangerous driver told triple-0 operators they believed a motorist wanted to cause an accident, a court has heard. Photo: Brett Wortman

Bruce Highway motorists in fear of an alleged dangerous driver told triple-0 operators they believed a motorist wanted to cause an accident, a court has heard.

The driver - Bowen panel beater Matthew Keith Towers - has been charged with one count of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance and two counts of disqualified driving after alleged incidents on December 26 and 29.

Mr Towers made a bail application in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on December 30.

Acting Magistrate Stephen Byrne said the allegations before the court involved Mr Towers driving erratically on the Bruce Highway, with emergency services receiving calls between 12.03am and 12.30am on December 29 about his behaviour on the road.

He said Mr Towers was accused of driving his vehicle into oncoming traffic, swerving all over the road, speeding up and “fishtailing up the highway”.

“A number of informants believed that you were attempting to cause a crash between your vehicle and other vehicles on the road,” Mr Byrne said.

“At times, you sped up, you slowed down, you stopped in the middle of the road, you reversed towards other vehicles before taking off.

“Ultimately, you were stopped by the police and the police observed that you were unsteady on your feet, had bloodshot eyes, you mumbled and you were incoherent in your speech.”

Police allege they observed Mr Towers riding a motorcycle three days before the incident, although he had been disqualified from driving for three years from August 8, 2023.

He also had previously been convicted of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle on March 8, 2021 and sentenced to 12 months prison with immediate parole eligibility.

Defence lawyer Virginia Ukpabi said Mr Towers was a self-employed panel beater who had projects underway and no employees to finish them if he was remanded in custody.

She said he was married with two stepchildren.

Ms Ukpabi said Mr Towers had an issue with abusing the drug methamphetamine.

Mr Byrne found Mr Towers was an unacceptable risk of reoffending, saying he was “too much of a risk to the community and other road users”.

Mr Towers was remanded in custody and his matters were adjourned to Bowen Magistrates Court on January 7.