Trae Hazell: Dubbo street racer sentenced for reckless riding

A bike rider with an “appalling record” has been forced to pay up after a co-rider crashed and ended up in a Sydney hospital with life threatening injuries.

Dubbo man Trae Hazell was convicted of a string of offences. Picture: Facebook

A 22-year-old Dubbo man has been fined more than $2000 and banned from driving for 12 months after he was caught on camera street racing on the Newell Highway.

Trae Brandon Hazell joined Josh Crowe and a woman for a motorcycle ride from Dubbo to Parkes on August 11.

In court documents, police said Crowe had a GoPro camera attached to his helmet that filmed every illegal act the pair performed.

The footage ended up with police after the woman collided with a railing on Renshaw McGuire Way when the trio were on their way back to Dubbo.

The woman was flown to Liverpool Hospital with life-threatening injuries and she is now recovering.

Dubbo man Trae Hazell has pleaded guilty to street racing charges. Picture: Facebook

Police at the scene of the collision retrieved the GoPro camera attached to Crowe’s helmet and laid multiple charges after watching the footage.

Hazell had only held his learner motorbike licence for three months when he was captured riding up to 200km/h and holding his fingers up and counting down as he took part in a street race with Crowe.

After he was initially charged with two offences, police charged Hazell with five fresh offences last month when they watched more footage of him taking part in another dangerous riding trip with Crowe on August 2.

On that occasion Hazell was not displaying L plates and was riding a motorcycle his licence never allowed him to ride.

Hazell pleaded guilty to seven driving charges which included negligent driving, driving recklessly or dangerously, taking part in a race between vehicles, not displaying L plates and not stopping at stop line or level crossing.

According to documents tendered in court, Hazell suffered from depression when he committed the offences, along with serious loss and grief issues which stemmed from the deaths of loved ones.

The court was told Hazell’s relationship had broken down and that he considered his behaviour on the road to be stupid.

Josh Crowe pleaded guilty to street racing and negligent driving charges in Dubbo Local Court. Picture: Ryan Young

After he was charged, the court heard Hazell, who police said had an “appalling traffic record”, completed a traffic offender course.

Magistrate Gary Wilson convicted Hazell of all offences and disqualified him from driving for 12 months.

Hazell was fined $2100 and placed on two community corrections orders for 18 months.

Crowe has pleaded guilty to a string of driving charges related to various joy rides he took part in. He will be sentenced next month.