Brandon John Pankhurst: L-plater pleads guilty after crashing motorbike into a truck at Millaroo Drive, Helensvale

A 21-year-old learner driver seriously injured after he smashed his speeding motorbike into the side of a truck has been brought before a court to answer for his actions.

Brandon John Pankhurst was sentenced for his involvement that saw his motorbike crash into a truck on Millaroo Drive, Helensvale. Picture: Google Street View/Emily Walker

A learner driver who survived life-threatening head injuries has been sentenced after t-boning a truck while travelling 100km/h in a commercial area in Helensvale.

Brandon John Pankhurst, 21, appeared in Southport Magistrates Court before Magistrate Dominic Brunello, still suffering from the injuries he sustained in the crash.

He pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention, learning to ride motorbike not supervised and driving without L-plates displayed.

The court heard that at 5.37am on October 8, 2024, Pankhurst was riding his recently purchased Yamaha motorbike at around 100km/h on Millaroo Drive, Helensvale where the limit is 60km/h.

He crashed into the rear driver’s side of a 2010 Isuzu tray truck that was leaving a landscape supplies company and turning onto the road.

As a learner driver during the incident, Pankhurst was driving unaccompanied and without any L-plates attached, the court heard.

Witnesses found Pankhurst lying in the bicycle lane after the crash and needing emergency care.

At the time of the accident, Gold Coast Superintendent Peter Miles said that Pankhurst was “in the fight of his life” and “in a very serious condition”.

He was rushed to Gold Coast University Hospital with significant injuries to his head.

The court heard that Pankhurst suffered a number of injuries from the crash including a diffuse brain injury, spent a period of time in a coma on a ventilator, and suffered from deep vein thrombosis after laying in a state of intensive care.

Brandon John Pankhurst left Southport Magistrates Court after being sentenced over the Millaroo Drive crash. Picture: Emily Walker

At the sentencing, Mr Brunello said that Pankhurst was the person that came off worse for wear in the collision.

“I ride a motorbike,” Mr Brunello said.

“ … and it’s a decision that needs to not be taken lightly and is a big responsibility to yourself and others.

“And you abandoned that responsibility [that] morning.”

In his sentencing, Mr Brunello said that Pankhurst had already been punished, with the young man’s arm, speech and cognition still impacted by his brain injury.

“He’s suffered enough,” Mr Brunello said.

Pankhurst was sentenced to undertake a recognisance release order with a $350 surety and to be of good behaviour for 12 months with no conviction recorded.