Crashes involving out-of-control youth drivers stack up

Queensland youths have been involved in a number of fatal crashes in recent years that have either ended their own lives or injured innocent bystanders.

Youths have been responsible for several fatal crashes across Queensland in recent years involving innocent pedestrians and motorists.

TOWNSVILLE, JUNE 2020

Just seven months before a 17-year-old boy in an alleged stolen car allegedly hit and killed Kate Leadbetter and Matty Fields at Alexandra Hills, four teenagers died when they crashed their allegedly stolen vehicle in Townsville.

Lucius Hill, 13, Cayenne Nona, 14, Rayveena Coolwell, 15, and Aaliyah Tepaa-Brown, 17, died when the KIA SUV they were in smashed into a traffic pole on Bayswater Road.

(From top) Cayenne Nona, Rayveena Coolwell, Lucius Hill (also known by Baira), and Aaliyah Tappa Brown were killed in a crash last year.

The 14-year-old male driver of the car, which was allegedly stolen from Idalia, has been charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death, among other offences.

ROTHWELL, MAY 2019

Jacob Hopkins, 14, died and 10 other people needed treatment when a stolen car lost control and struck a power pole at Rothwell in Moreton Bay. 

His car was travelling along Anzac Ave when it lost control and struck a power pole near Wattle Rd.

The car was allegedly stolen from a shopping centre at Kallangur earlier in the day before being driven at speed along Anzac Ave and through a red light.

Jacob Hopkins, 14, was killed in a two-vehicle crash after a group of teenagers allegedly stole a car.

STAFFORD, SEPTEMBER 2018

Joshua Gray, 15, was left for dead by a group of youths when his stolen car ploughed into a house on Appleby Road at Stafford, in Brisbane’s inner north.

Joshua Dylan Gray killed when the stolen car he was travelling in ploughed into a Stafford home on September 22, 2018. The 15 year old driver has been charged in relation to the death.

Two other 15-year-old boys were in the car at the time and fled the scene on foot.

The driver, 15, was charged with one count each of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and driving without a licence.