Teen pedestrian seriously hurt after being struck by car, group attacks passenger

Police say a group of people who ‘stomped on’ a car which hit a teenage girl watching burnouts in the street had compromised key evidence in the serious crash investigation.

The 17-year-old pedestrian and 53-year-old car passenger were both taken to hospital. Picture: File photo

Police have revealed more details after a teen girl was seriously injured when she was hit by a car, including that the “idiotic” actions of her friends directly contributed to the serious incident.

Sergeant Michael Hollett further slammed the conduct of the group who then allegedly chased the car, “kicked and stomped it”, assaulted a passenger and “highly compromised” evidence at Homebush on Saturday night.

The Mackay Forensic Crash Unit officer in charge said the injured 17 year old had been at a party off Homebush Road where it is alleged alcohol was being consumed and where one or two vehicles including a white ute were doing burnouts on the roadway.

Sergeant Hollett said early investigations indicated the teen, from Glenella, had been among a group standing on the road watching the vehicle do burn outs.

Separately but at the same time another vehicle, a red Mazda 3 being driven by a 16-year-old learner driver, was travelling home also along Homebush Rd.

It is understood the occupants of the Mazda had seen the lights and as a result the teen driver has slowed down as she approached.

Mackay Forensic Crash Unit Officer in Charge Sergeant Michael Hollett. Picture: Lillian Watkins.

“Without any warning this group has appeared in front of them (the Mazda) as they passed the car going the burnouts,” Sergeant Hollett said.

He was exploring if the vehicle headlights had obscured the learner driver’s vision.

Sergeant Hollett said the red Mazda and its occupants had nothing to do with the party - the vehicle had just been travelling on Homebush Road.

There was nothing to suggest the Mazda had been doing the wrong thing.

“The behaviour that driver has shown (allegedly) doing burnouts on the road with people standing having no regard for other traffic using the road … it’s just idiotic, stupid behaviour,” Sergeant Hollett said.

About 9.47pm November 2 the Mazda collided with the 17 year old, who suffered significant pelvis and head injuries and was taken to Mackay Base Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

“What happened to this girl is a direct result of these cars doing the burnouts … and the silly behaviour of the people just standing on the road, watching, not being fully aware of maybe other cars are using the road,” Sergeant Hollett said.

The Mazda continued for a short distance before stopping, when it is alleged a group of people nearby approached it and assaulted a 53-year-old male passenger.

The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating. Any one with information or relevant footage should call Policelink on 131 444.

Sergeant Hollett said it was alleged when the group reached they vehicle they “kicked it, stomped on it”.

“It highly compromised any evidence we were going to use to try and determine exactly what happened,” he said.

“This just showed a pack mentality of this group.”

He said it was further alleged the group banged on windows, kicked in doors leaving “shoe prints all over the car”.

Officers broke up the group when they arrived shortly after.

The 53-year-old male passenger, from Sarina, was also taken to hospital for treatment for head injuries.

The other occupants of the Mazda – a 16-year-old female driver, a 12-year-old male passenger, and a 56-year-old female passenger – were not physically hurt.

The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating. Any one with information or relevant footage should call Policelink on 131 444.