Jackson Yager: Hope Island teen pleads guilty after electric motorbike hits cyclist on Surfers Paradise footpath

A magistrate believes a Hope Island teenager was “undercharged” after he crashed his unregistered electric motorbike into a 58-year-old cyclist before driving off without offering assistance.

A magistrate believes an unlicensed Hope Island teenager was “undercharged” after he crashed his unregistered electric motorbike into a 58-year-old cyclist before driving off without offering assistance.

Jackson Yager, 18, fronted the Southport Magistrates Court on Monday for the first time where he pleaded guilty to one charge each of dangerous operation of a vehicle, fail to remain at incident and render assistance, driving without a licence, drive uninsured vehicle, vehicle on road unregistered and not wearing a motorbike helmet.

The court heard Yager who was driving an electric Sunra motorcycle when he collided with a 58-year-old female cyclist on a footpath at the Surfers Paradise Esplanade about 5.30am on October 21.

Jackson Yager, 18, who hit a cyclist with his unregistered electric motorcycle, leaves Southport Courthouse after his sentence. Picture: Emily Walker

After crashing into the cyclist, Yager returned to his motorbike, restarted it and rode away without making any attempt to provide assistance to the woman.

It was reported at the time the cyclist had to be transported to hospital and suffered significant bruising to her right side.

The court heard Yager was captured on Gold Coast City Council cameras driving at high speeds on his motorcycle while weaving in and out of pedestrians and narrowly avoiding members of the public at Surfers Paradise on October 21.

Using camera footage, police were able to locate Yager, who works as a steel fixer, at his Broadbeach job site on the same day and seize his electric motorbike.

Police located the Hope Island teen at Broadbeach. Picture: QPS

In court, the prosecution said the crash occurred when Yager made a sharp turn at high speed, resulting in him crashing into the back of the cyclist.

But Yager said there was no sharp corner and told the court he had been trying to miss the cyclist when she moved from the left side to the right side of the footpath which he was on.

“I’ve pulled my brakes down, pulled my bike down to miss the lady because if I hit her this would be a different story,” he said.

“ … my back tyre has just touched her back tyre and she’s fell of her bike.”

Yager said he didn’t know at the time he had hit the woman but he was sorry for his actions.

Yager leaving Southport Courthouse. Picture: Emily Walker

Magistrate Pamela Dowse called forward the teenager’s father to ask what he thought about the charges.

He told the court he had made his son previously sell a motorbike but the teenager had not been living with him at the time.

“What upsets me the most is he has actually hit somebody,” he said, later letting out sobs while his son’s fate was determined.

Ms Dowse said Yager was a very lucky person.

Police speak to the Hope Island tee Broadbeach. Picture: QPS

“I think the police have undercharged you,” she said.

“Dangerous driving causing injury … absolutely outrageous.”

Yager was disqualified from driving for nine months, and fined $2500.

Electric bikes and scooters have been an issue of concern for many in the community, following a spate of tragic deaths in Queensland.

The results of parliamentary inquiry into electric vehicles are due to be brought down in March but locals leaders and parents have urged the Crisafulli government to take action with Mayor Tom Tate warning community frustration had “reached fever point”.

Originally published as Jackson Yager: Hope Island teen pleads guilty after electric motorbike hits cyclist on Surfers Paradise footpath