M1 ladder death: Burleigh Heads man Brodie Troy Smith, 40, in court charged with dangerous driving

A 40-year-old Gold Coast man has faced court charged with dangerous driving after a ladder allegedly fell from his ute, leading to the death of a motorcyclist.

A man charged over a fatal motorcycle crash on the M1 after a ladder allegedly fell from his ute has faced court for the first time.

Brodie Troy Smith, 40, of Burleigh Heads, was charged with dangerous driving causing the death of motorcyclist Craig Ward.

Mr Ward died last November when a ladder allegedly fell from Smith’s ute, causing a massive pileup which closed the highway for several hours.

Mr Ward was allegedly forced to take evasive action and was struck by another vehicle, killing him instantly.

Smith will reappear in Southport Magistrates Court on May 20.

Craig Ward, 53, of Merrimac was killed in a horror crash on the M1 on Monday morning, which has been linked to a ladder falling from a tradie’s vehicle. Picture: Facebook