Sunnybank car meet-up groups ‘infiltrated’ by hoons before pedestrian hit and killed

A member of a car meet-up group linked to the death of a pedestrian in Sunnybank says reckless hoons are infiltrating the groups and ruining their reputations.

The intersection where a pedestrian was hit and killed at Sunnybank. Picture: Liam Kidston

Hoons behaving badly are infiltrating car enthusiast meet-ups and giving the groups a bad name, a concerned member says, as police condemn hooning in wake of a pedestrian being struck by a car at the weekend.

It comes after the death of Vinson Yeung, 25, who was struck while crossing the road at Maynes Rd in Sunnybank on Saturday night.

Abu-Bakr Mohammed, 18, was charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and was released on bail on Tuesday.

It’s understood Mohammed was at a car enthusiast meet-up before police allege he struck Mr Yeung after speeding through a red light. He is not accused of being a hoon.

But car enthusiast Kenny Heng, 20, defended the meet-ups, saying most people were there for the right reasons.

“A lot of the people who run the car meets and meet-ups don’t promote hooning at all, and a lot of the time the people that do it get banned,” Mr Heng said.

“The people that do the wrong thing are terrible and we usually have them black-listed.”

Car enthusiast meet-ups are being infiltrated by reckless hoons, a concerned member claims. Picture: Supplied

Around Sunnybank, there are four car enthusiast meet-up groups who catch up regularly.

They post on social media about planned catch-ups, but on a Friday night some of them congregate on the rooftop of Sunnybank Plaza carpark.

Mr Heng said they admire each other’s car builds, have some food and catch up with friends, but a few hoons were ruining the experience for everyone else.

“The people that do the hooning are about 10 per cent (of the group), and a lot of the time they take the fun out of it.”

Police patrols are regular at the meets, but Mr Heng said cops are always “straightforward” and were usually there to disrupt the minority of hoons.

Abu-Bakr Mohammed, 18, is charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death. Picture: Liam Kidston

South Brisbane District said they often detected and disrupted hooning, but these meet-ups were not the place it was happening.

“Police respect the rights of car enthusiasts coming together to enjoy their hobby and very rarely do police identify hooning behaviour at such events,” the spokeswoman said.

In the last 12 months, just three type one-related hooning offences have been handed out in the area, with cops saying they weren’t aware of any dedicated hooning groups in Sunnybank.

“Hooning is dangerous and can lead to serious injuries or loss of life and offenders will be prosecuted, with offences attracting a range of penalties that include licence suspensions, impoundment and possible forfeiture of vehicles among other indictable offences.

“Police here and around the state know all too well the trauma and devastation felt decades on by loved ones left behind, those on the front line and the community.”

Local resident Theresa Robertizza said the main road where the death occurred was known for speeding cars during the night.

The mother said her daughter once had a close call at the nearby crossing when a motorist didn’t see her and almost struck her.

“I do get worried,” Ms Robertizza said.

Ms Robertizza said a speed camera on the thoroughfare may slow drivers down.

Originally published as Sunnybank car meet-up groups ‘infiltrated’ by hoons before pedestrian hit and killed