Dylan John Campbell crashes into police, speeds down footpath after conviction for dangerous driving killing Hayley Russell
A driver who hit a cop then mounted the footpath in Brisbane CBD forcing panicked pedestrians to take cover was previously convicted of killing a young woman while drink-driving.
Police & Courts
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A driver who caused chaos in Brisbane CBD when he hit a cop and mounted the footpath forcing pedestrians to take cover was previously convicted of killing a young woman while drink-driving.
Dylan John Campbell, 29, faced Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday on 57 charges including dangerous and unlicensed driving, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, evading police and multiple break and enters.
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In January Campbell drove a stolen car into a police motorcycle, knocking the officer to the ground before mounting a city footpath and driving along it at up to 50km/h for 60 metres.
On the footpath he smashed into three cars and forced a pedestrian to jump out of harm‘s way to avoid being hit.
The court heard it occurred about 5.30pm and the traffic was heavy.
Just a week earlier he caused another officer to jump out of harm‘s way when he fled from a police stop and wove in and out of traffic on Grey St at South Bank.
Campbell was on probation at the time but it was his prior history that made his offending so “outrageous’, pole prosecutor Snr Constable David Barnes said.
In 2011 Campbell was sentenced to 7.5 years jail for a dangerous driving causing death and grievous bodily harm in 2009.
Campbell – then an L-plater later found to have a blood-alcohol level of 0.117 – was speeding when he lost control and slammed into another car in Alexandra Hills.
Hayley Russell, 20, one of Campbell’s passengers who had been screaming for him to slow down, died at the scene. Another girl was seriously injured.
Campbell told paramedics at the scene that one of the girls was driving and tried to blame it on the other car.
“It‘s outrageous that he would still be driving dangerously after killing someone in his vehicle, it shows his lack of remorse,” Snr Con Barnes said.
It‘s unacceptable … and it must be denounced by the court.
He sought a prison term of 2.5 years and a lifetime driving ban.
Campbell’s Legal Aid lawyer said her client had already spent seven months in custody under tough covid conditions.
She said his recent offending wasn’t necessarily a lack of remorse but probably the impact of drug use.
“I’d be surprised if he wasn’t under the influence while driving,” she said.
“Fortunately, nobody was hurt.”
Magistrate Gary Finger said it was a “miracle” the officer knocked off his bike wasn‘t injured.
Noting a long gap in Campbell’s offending he sentenced him to two years jail for the dangerous driving offences but placed him on immediate parole.
Mr Finger disqualified him from driving for four years.