Police under fire for only fining alleged dangerous driver after crash with boy on electric bike

Police are being asked to explain why an alleged ‘dangerous’ driver who hit a young boy on his ebike on the Gold Coast has only been issued a fine. Read what the boy’s dad has to say.

• Audi-driving bar boss collides with boy, 12 FULL VIDEO

Police, lawyers and family of a boy, 12, knocked off his electric dirt bike by a Gold Coast hospitality boss are questioning why only a fine notice was issued.

The young victim was left with bruising and scratches along with damage to his $7000 electric bike from what police alleged in a statement on Wednesday morning was a black Audi Q5 “driven in a dangerous manner towards” the child at Paradise Point on January 6

near Salacia Drive and Oceanic Drive.

The 12-year-old boy was left with scratches and bruising from the crash.

Pictures: Supplied.

“An Audi A5 is alleged to have been driven in a dangerous manner towards a 12-year-old boy from Paradise Point. It is alleged the vehicle struck the boy, knocking him from his bike,” the QPS statement on Wednesday morning said.

The boy’s father is demanding police explain why the alleged driver 58-year-old Paradise Point hospitality boss Howard Wright was issued with a fine and not charged.

“(My son’s) contacted me in shock pretty much, quite frightened at what had happened. From what I can see on the footage he (driver) has rammed him off his bike with his motor vehicle,” the father alleged.

Video of the crash, from the victim’s GoPro, shows Mr Wright saying the child “ran” in front of his vehicle. There is no suggestion the car hitting the bike was deliberate or intentional.

When approached outside his home on Thursday morning, Mr Wright declined to answer questions and said he was living “in fear”.

“My only comment is this is a police matter and I am in fear for my life,” he added before walking back inside his home.

Police alleged 58-year-old hospitality boss Howard Wright drove dangerously towards the 12 year old victim before crashing into him. He was fined for driving without due care and attention.

The boy screams “What the f--k?” as the Audi comes towards him before repeatedly yelling “I didn’t do nothing...why did you hit me?”.

Mr Wright replies: “I know you didn’t do anything. This bike is illegal.”

The boy then says: “Yeah but why did you hit me?”

And Mr Wright replies: “You ran in front of my car. I’m sorry.”

After viewing footage, the victim’s father said he went to Runaway Bay Police Station with his son where they were interviewed.

“When I was talking to police they said he’s in a lot of trouble for this,” the father claims.

“The police saw the footage on the GoPro and they were (in) disgust with it.”

The family were contacted by officers days afterwards and told Mr Wright was handed an infringement notice for driving without due care and attention.

“The man (Wright) just walks away with a $700 fine. For running down my 12-year-old boy, who’s still in shock and is traumatised,” the father said.

“I need something done about it – I’m not happy. I’ve been failed by the police. It gives other people the idea it is OK. It’s crazy and it’s setting a bad example.”

Asked why no further steps were taken against the driver, a Queensland Police Service spokesman said inquiries were being made into the matter.

The scene in Paradise Point where the crash occurred.

The Bulletin provided a copy of the incident footage to six police officers, some with decades of service, asking their opinion. All six believed police handling of the incident required scrutiny.

“You can see the posted speed sign in the footage – it’s 10 kilometres an hour. In my respectful submission that car is travelling well over the speed limit,” a senior officer said.

“The driver does not indicate when they turn that corner and they don’t appear to slow down. The consequences here could have resulted in serious - serious injuries or a loss of life.”

Another officer with specialist forensic crash unit experience believed Mr Wright’s actions as the alleged driver also raised questions.

“There is a temporary fence across that road – it’s completely blocked. Why would a driver enter that road at such speed when it’s closed?” they said. “I fear we (police) have got this case terribly wrong and have failed this young fella and his family.

“I can’t explain why any trained police officer would choose to take the course of action they have.”

Jason Murakami, one of the Gold Coast's top criminal lawyers, said the decision of police needs to be scrutinised. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Adjunct professor of criminal law and founder of Griffith University’s Innocence Project, Jason Murakami, who also watched the footage, said: “The QPS’s discretion to not charge should be closely scrutinised and questioned just as much as the QPS’s discretion to charge.”

“Both decisions when wrong lead to serious injustices for private citizens.”

Howard Wright has not returned calls or requests for comment.

Originally published as Police under fire for only fining alleged dangerous driver after crash with boy on electric bike