Gold Coast crash: Teen girl critical after car crash linked to hooning on Burnside Drive at Ormeau
The site of a horrific crash on the Gold Coast overnight – which left a 16-year-old girl critically injured – is the same location a motorcyclist was found dead six years ago.
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THE telltale signs of hooning mark the road leading to the location of a horrific crash on the Gold Coast in which a teen girl was critically injured – the same spot a motorcyclist was found dead six years ago.
Queensland Police raced to Burnside Road at Ormeau about 1.15am this morning after a number of vehicles were reported to be hooning in the area.
Officers tried to intercept one of the cars, but it sped away and made it out of sight before it was found by police a short time later, along with a second vehicle, crashed into a creek bed.
Five people were injured, including a 16-year-old Warwick girl, who suffered critical injuries and was rushed to Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital.
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Four other occupants in the cars, including two male drivers of an undisclosed age, suffered minor injuries and were taken to Gold Coast University Hospital.
Burnout marks were visible along the road on Sunday.
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Investigations by the Forensic Crash Unit were ongoing on Sunday and the Queensland Police Ethical Standards Command (ESC) was overseeing the matter.
Tyre tracks could be seen trailing into the creek bed – next to a tree peppered with written tributes to Gilberton motorcyclist Luke Brehmer – after Sunday’s crash.
The incident occurred in the same spot Mr Brehmer was found dead by a member of the public on January 25, 2014.
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The 45-year-old man, who was described as a “bloody champion” by one grieving mate, failed to negotiate a bend and crashed near the creek bed.
Speaking on the Coast, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the State Government was taking action on hooning.
“These incidents are absolutely tragic when they happen,” she said.
“Everyone should obey the laws when they are driving their vehicles and of course we have announced plans that in the future we will be targeting the owners of those vehicles, so we will take those extra tough measures.”
Gold Coast District Chief Superintendent Mark Wheeler said investigations were ongoing, but he warned motorists must consider their own behaviour behind the wheel.
Tragically, seven young people have died on Coast roads since late July in crashes believed to have been influenced by driver behaviour or inexperience.
“There’s been significant loss of life in a number of crashes over the last few months and they’re still under investigation,” Supt Wheeler said.
“The one from (Sunday) night, we’re investigating speed and driver behaviour.
“The message is: don’t speed and don’t drive in this manner. These are sometimes the outcomes we see.
“We often see young people who are full of bravado and confidence and are simply not equipped to drive in that manner. They’re inexperienced and if something goes wrong they’re not able to respond appropriately.”
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Supt Wheeler suggested the teen girl may not have been wearing a seatbelt, but that was yet to be determined.
He said ESC’s involvement was “routine” and police have a “really difficult job to do”.
Officers have been running operations to dissuade hooning, particularly in northern suburbs.
“But ultimately, police cannot be on every street, every road, all the time,” Supt Wheeler said.
“People who drive in a dangerous manner put themselves, the occupants of their vehicles and all the other road users at risk.”
Supt Wheeler said Coast officers with children of a similar age to those injured or killed in recent crashes had found it “incredibly stressful” to attend.
The girl remained in a critical condition and no one had been arrested or charged by Sunday afternoon.
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