‘Completely illegal’: Businessman’s insane reaction to hitting 12-year-old boy

A wealthy businessman has been fined after knocking a 12-year-old boy from his bike. His reaction moments after the collision left the child stunned.

Gold Coast hospitality boss Howard Wright has been fined for driving in a “dangerous manner” after knocking a 12-year-old boy from his electric dirt bike.

Footage of the shocking interaction, first reported by the Gold Coast Bulletin, shows the moment the boy was allegedly hit by the 58-year-old’s Audi A5 in Paradise Point, around midday on January 6.

There is no suggestion that the hit was deliberate or intentional on Mr Wright’s part.

News.com.au has contacted Mr Wright for comment.

In the video, filmed on the boy’s helmet-mounted GoPro and uploaded by him to Instagram, Mr Wright’s Audi can be seen driving toward him. Moments later, the boy falls from his bike, and while lying on the ground, begins to yell: “I didn’t do nothing. I didn’t do nothing.”

“What the f**k?” the boy continues, as Mr Wright exits his car and approaches him.

“I didn’t do nothing, I didn’t do nothing. I wasn’t even there. Why did you hit me?”

Gold Coast hospitality boss Howard Wright has been fined for driving in a ‘dangerous manner’ after knocking a 12-year-old boy from his electric dirt bike. Picture: Instagram

“I know you didn’t do anything,” Mr Wright responds, before telling the boy: “This bike is illegal.”

The boy questions why Mr Wright “hit” him, to which he says: “You ran in front of my car. I’m sorry.”

Mr Wright, whose company owns two flashy bars at Paradise Point, then introduces himself, before once again telling the boy: “First of all, understand this bike is completely illegal.”

“Ah sh*t. Can you fix my handle bars? F**king hell that hurt,” the boy says, only for Mr Wright to repeat for a third time that his “bike is completely illegal”.

Mr Wright approached the boy after the incident. Picture: Instagram

He informed the boy multiple times that his bike was ‘completely illegal’. Picture: Instagram

Several onlookers then approach the scene, with one woman telling Mr Wright the boy is “just a kid”.

“Sorry? I know he is. They are ringing my doorbell every day,” Mr Wright says, to which the boy interjects: “No, I didn’t do it.”

“See the guy over there, with (the) blue hat on – (he) just rang the doorbell. I’m about to go police from the case from yesterday.

“If I were you, buddy, I would vanish off. The police are going to be back here.”

The boy tells Mr Wright he is “a bit confused why you hit (me)”.

“I didn’t do nothing … I saw you zoom up on me, I have it on film,” he adds.

One witness chimes in: “We saw that.”

Mr Wright was issued with an Infringement Notice for driving without care and attention.

A Gold Coast police spokesperson said Mr Wright left the scene and attended the Runaway Bay Police Station shortly after, where he was issued an Infringement Notice for driving without care and attention.

“An Audi A5 is alleged to have been driven in a dangerous manner towards a 12-year-old boy from Paradise Point,” the spokesperson said.

“It is alleged the vehicle struck the boy, knocking him from his bike.”

Mr Wright said he is ‘in fear for my life’ after the incident. Picture: Pedro Freitas

Residents who live nearby said Mr Wright ‘regrets’ the incident. Picture: Instagram

In the days since, Mr Wright’s neighbours alleged to The Bulletin that he had received “death threats”.

Approached outside his home on Thursday, Mr Wright declined to comment, saying only that it was “a police matter and I am in fear for my life”.

“He can’t handle it right now. Of course he regrets it,” one resident said.

“He regrets it because of the constant personal fear of his house and car (being trashed). I think Howard felt maybe he shouldn’t have chased after the kid.”

Other residents who live nearby said they are “on edge” due to “out of control” youth in the area.

“They are little sh*ts … They can do anything,” one said.

“You only have to look at the 13-year-old who stabbed that woman in Coles.

“This is such a quiet street and the neighbourhood has been worried, scared and on edge over the past 10 days.”

There is no suggestion the boy in the video was involved in any of the conduct.

Originally published as ‘Completely illegal’: Businessman’s insane reaction to hitting 12-year-old boy