‘Lucky he didn’t kill someone’: Delinquent driver risks lives on Cairns’ northern beaches

Shocked bystanders say a reckless hoon’s dangerous joyride along a popular beach north of Cairns could have had tragic consequences with frightened children and tourists scurrying out of the vehicle’s way.

Ellis Beach residents have reported a dangerous driver, who dangerously swerved around bystanders during a reckless joyride on Thursday afternoon.

Shocked bystanders say a reckless hoon’s dangerous joyride along a popular beach north of Cairns could have had tragic consequences with frightened children and tourists scurrying out of the vehicle’s way.

Witnesses reported a dual-cab ute being driven “erratically” along Ellis Beach at around 3pm on Thursday as families attempted to soak in the mid-afternoon sun.

Panic-stricken beachgoers feared for their lives as the vehicle weaved along the sand, reaching speeds of up to around 70km/h, Ellis Beach Holiday park manager Katrina Neumann said.

“It’s just crazy,” Ms Neumann said. “It was really lucky he didn’t kill someone on the beach.

“There were people staying in the park with children and nothing happened.”

Bollards washed away during the December flood had previously kept motorists from driving on the beach, Ms Neumann said.

“It’s been happening quite a lot recently,” she said of vehicles entering the beach.

“We have lots of people on the beach and it’s just so dangerous.”

Witnesses say the vehicle has sustained significant damage following the incident at Ellis Beach on Thursday evening.

After the vehicle became bogged, bystander Nick Giampietro said he approached the driver to offer assistance.

“I was going to help him with the excavator but he told me to ‘F**k off’,” Mr Giampietro said.

“He’s come from up near the yacht club. People were yelling out but he didn’t seem to care.

“He was definitely under the influence of something.”

The vehicle appeared to have sustained significant damage as a result of the driver’s actions, Mr Giampietro said.

“The tow truck pulled it out last night but the tyres have been pulled off the rims, so it’s just sitting there,” he said.

“It’s still on the beach but it’s just out of the tidal area. Someone’s attacked it since then, pulled off the mirrors and there are scratches all over it.”

A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman said authorities were aware of reports of a vehicle that became bogged on Ellis Beach on Thursday night.

Officers are making further enquiries and urge anyone with information or relevant vision to contact police.

Originally published as ‘Lucky he didn’t kill someone’: Delinquent driver risks lives on Cairns’ northern beaches