Rage at Bundaberg crash scene as family car written off after altercation

A family was hospitalised and their car seriously damaged in a dramatic incident at a busy intersection in Bundaberg on Wednesday night. The incident is under police investigation, with appeals for witnesses to come forward. See the video:

A family was hospitalised and their car seriously damaged in a dramatic incident at a busy intersection in Bundaberg on Wednesday night.

The family, which was visiting Bundaberg from Mt Gambier, was in a car at a set of traffic lights when they were hit so hard from behind they were pushed 30m across the intersection and were left with neck pain, whiplash and minor injuries.

Their car was reportedly “written off” and all three were taken to hospital.

The driver, Leanne Schmitt, said on Thursday she had pulled her car to a stop at the traffic lights at the intersection of Bourbong and Maryborough Streets about 6.30pm on Wednesday when the incident occurred.

Ms Schmitt’s partner and son were also in the car.

A family was hospitalised and their car damaged in a dramatic incident at a busy intersection in Bundaberg on Wednesday night. This is a screenshot from a video taken by a passerby immediately after the incident.

“A silver Commodore pulled up behind us,” Ms Schmitt said.

“A man with face tattoos came up to (that) car and opened the passenger door yelling abuse at (the person driving that car). We could hear her yelling back, then all of a sudden she just floored it straight into our car, pushing us about 30m into the intersection.”

A member of the public reportedly captured a video of the scene immediately after the crash.

Ms Schmitt said the driver who allegedly hit her vehicle then pulled to the side of the road and started yelling at the man who opened her door, before driving away.

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokesperson said three people were transported to Bundaberg Hospital at 6.34pm in a stable condition - a woman in her 40s with neck pain, a primary school-aged child with neck pain, and a man in his 50s with minor injuries.

A family was hospitalised and their car damaged in a dramatic incident at a busy intersection in Bundaberg on Wednesday night.

Ms Schmitt said her son had whiplash and a bruised head, she had whiplash and a severely sprained spine, and her partner had whiplash as a result of the crash.
A Queensland Police Service spokesperson said investigations were ongoing into the incident as they had not been able to contact the driver of the Commodore.

Anyone with information on the crash is urged to contact police.

Originally published as Rage at Bundaberg crash scene as family car written off after altercation