Teen charged with murder of pregnant woman, partner killed in horror crash involving allegedly stolen car

Police have described the scene of a double fatal pedestrian crash in Brisbane as “incredibly catastrophic” and a “terrible tragedy”.

A 17-year-old boy has been charged with murder after a pregnant woman and her partner were killed when an allegedly stolen 4WD rolled after a crash in Brisbane’s Bayside on Australia Day.

Emergency services were called to a three-vehicle collision around 5.30pm on Tuesday on Finucane Rd, near Vienna Rd at Alexandra Hills.

The local couple, a 31-year-old woman and a 37-year-old man, were crossing the road with their dogs when they were struck. Both died at the scene.

They have been identified as Matty Field and Kate Leadbetter, who was six months pregnant.

Emergency services were called to a three-vehicle crash. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Two pedestrians were killed. Picture: Steve Pohlner

‘INCREDIBLY CATASTROPHIC’

Queensland Police Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd on Wednesday told reporters it was an “incredibly sad and difficult” set of circumstances.

“The terrible tragedy that I’m talking about has resulted in two and potentially three innocent lives being lost,” he said.

Mr Codd said witnesses and first responders were confronted with an “incredibly catastrophic scene”.

“Despite the incredible efforts of witnesses and later Queensland Ambulance Service, both pedestrians died at the scene,” he said.

“Tragically, and from advice from the family and the QAS, we understand that Katherine was pregnant.”

Picture: Steve Pohlner

Queensland Police confirmed to news.com.au on Wednesday morning one of the couple’s two dogs had been located.

A post about the missing dog Frankie was circulated on social media on Tuesday night.

“She urgently requires medication for a condition,” it reads.

“If she is located, please contact Capalaba Police or convey her to Manly Road vet who will contact family members.”

Frankie was found alive in bushland around 11am on Wednesday.

This photograph of the dog was shared on social media on Tuesday night. Picture: Facebook

Police will allege in court a LandCruiser 4WD was stolen between 4pm and 5pm on Tuesday afternoon from a Cleveland house.

“Around 5.10pm the driver of the stolen LandCruiser deliberately collided with a silver Hyundai at the intersection of Vienna and Finucane Roads before speeding away,” Queensland Police said in a statement.

“Approximately 5.25pm the LandCruiser was travelling west on Finucane Road when it proceeded through a red light at the same intersection of Vienna Road and collided with a truck.

“The Toyota LandCruiser has rolled and struck two pedestrians crossing the road, they died at the scene.”

Local Mark Lovorec told The Courier-Mail he saw the man and woman walking along and then the white 4WD “just slammed straight into them”, flinging them several metres.

“They were dead and I was in shock,” he said.

A roadside memorial for the couple killed in Alexandra Hills. Picture: John Gass

A beer was placed among flowers left at the site of the crash on Wednesday.

Local Rikki Saunders left two pairs of baby socks.

“It’s not two lives lost, it’s a family. It’s an expecting family,” he told the ABC.

“It’s just innocence that will never see the light, that’s the hardest part.”

Footage has since emerged of the allegedly stolen LandCruiser colliding with the silver car at the same Alexandra Hills intersection, minutes before the fatal crash.

The first collision. Picture: Facebook

Police say the 17-year-old driver ran from the fatal crash but his alleged rampage continued.

“Around 5.30pm the male has stolen a set of keys from a Kingston Ave house and attempted to start a car in the garage,” the force said.

“He fled on foot when approached by one of the residents of the house who followed him to Chelsea Crescent where he was arrested by police.”

The male resident told 9News: “I saw him walking across the lawn, acted like I was going to run him over, stopped, jumped out.”

“Got him on to the ground. He went to get up so I give him a kick or two, put him on his face and held him until the police arrived,” he said.

The allegedly stolen Toyota LandCruiser struck the victims as it rolled after hitting the truck, police said. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Initial investigations suggested an allegedly stolen car was driving dangerously through an intersection and hit an oncoming truck. Picture: Steve Pohlner

The teenager, from Waterford West in Logan, was taken to hospital with minor soft tissue injuries.

He was arrested and charged with two counts of murder, one count of dangerous operation of a vehicle (adversely affected by an intoxicating substance), two counts of burglary and one count each of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and attempted unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

He is due to face the Brisbane Children’s Court on Wednesday.

#AlexandraHills - Multiple QAS crews including Critical Care Paramedics, the High Acuity Response Unit and QAS Medical Director attended this incident. Tragically two patients with critical injuries died on scene. https://t.co/DvaJzTXtlt

— Queensland Ambulance (@QldAmbulance) January 26, 2021

A Queensland Ambulance spokesperson told news.com.au that 10 crews, including critical care units and the medical director attended the scene of the crash at 5.44pm.

“Two patients, an adult male and adult female, were treated at the scene for critical injuries,” the spokesperson said.

“Another three patients, including two adults and a child were assessed but were uninjured and didn’t require transport to hospital.”

Queensland Ambulance said an adult male and adult female were treated for critical injuries. They died at the scene. Picture: Steve Pohlner