Gold Coast hoon: Pimpama residents fear fatality after speeding rider hit parked car

A violent crash on a suburban Gold Coast street following a recent spate of hooning has left locals horrified and frustrated. SEE VIDEO OF MOMENTS BEFORE THE CRASH

A VIOLENT crash on a suburban Gold Coast street following a recent spate of hooning has left locals horrified and frustrated – calling for more surveillance of their roads.

Pimpama residents were in shock Australia Day after a 27-year-old Coomera man on a dirt bike allegedly struck a car in a 50km zone on William Boulevard, about 10am.

According to witnesses the young man allegedly ploughed into a car that was in a driveway, somersaulting twice as he was thrown 12 metres from the site of the crash.

He was transported to Gold Coast University Hospital with significant injuries.

Footage of the bike moments before the crash show it passing homes at speed.

BEHIND THE FATALITY: STARK REALITY BEHIND DEATH ON OUR STREETS

Pimpama local Doug Kirby upset at the hooning in Cunningham Rd which he says will end in tears. Picture Glenn Hampson

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The crash can be heard seconds later in the background.

A resident, who only wanted to be identified as Shirley, was one of the first on the crash scene and said the rider looked like a ‘rag doll’.

“The moment I saw him I knew he wasn’t OK,” she said.

“He was on the ground, his left leg was in an awful angle and he had a bone sticking out of his arm. He was twisted in a way that was clearly not natural, he looked like a rag doll.

“I think the fact he had his helmet was probably the only reason he is still alive.

“I believe we do need to show compassion for the rider, no matter the circumstances.

“I wouldn’t wish those injuries on anyone, but unfortunately this was going to happen if people keep using our streets like a racetrack.
“It is a great community but this hooning has become a real problem.”

Doug Kirby who runs the Pimpama Community Neighbours Facebook page said a crash was bound to happen.

“Hooning happens all the time along here, and Cunningham Drive,” Mr Kirby said.

“They are both used as race tracks as they are hidden and lead into the bushland.”

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Photos of the Australia Day dirt bike crash on William Blvd, Pimpama. Picture: Pimpama Community Neighbours.

“We see dirt bikes and cars, what worries me is there is a school here as well so it could have been a lot worse.”

Mr Kirby said he had previously called for speed bumps and cameras to be placed in the area.

“Our worst fears virtually came true yesterday,” he said.

Division 1 Councillor Mark Hammel said he shared community concerns, however speeding was the jurisdiction of police.

“I am aware of calls from the community for council to address speeding and hooning on William Boulevard and Cunningham Drive in Pimpama. Council does not use CCTV and speed bumps for reducing instances of speeding and hooning, because they have been proven by traffic experts to be ineffective,” he said.

“Both William Boulevard and Cunningham Drive have been identified by city officers as candidates for council speed awareness devices. One of these devices is currently located on the northern end of Cunningham Drive, and council is also investigating a suitable location for a future device on William Boulevard.

Cunningham Drive Pimpama has become a regular hooning spot according to locals.

“Council shares data from these speed awareness devices with local police so they can make better decisions about where to locate speed cameras and allocate additional police resources.”

A city spokesperson said a large number of requests for traffic calming measures are investigated on “merit and best practice engineering”.

“Traffic counts are regularly undertaken throughout the City’s local road network to determine speed and volume of traffic in streets that are identified of concern.”

“Data is then analysed to determine the extent of any issue and whether traffic calming actions are required.”

Police have run preliminary testing (bloods), however given the injuries sustained by the rider have been unable to speak further with the man.

Forensic Crash Unit investigations continue.

Originally published as Gold Coast hoon: Pimpama residents fear fatality after speeding rider hit parked car