Russell Leslie Curtis in court for death of unborn baby in ‘harrowing’ crash

WARNING GRAPHIC: Two young women have been left with “life changing” injuries as a result of a head on collision on the Sunshine Coast that caused the death of an unborn baby boy.

Russell Curtis pleaded guilty to driving without due care or attention causing grievous bodily harm.

A crane operator has been fined for causing the “harrowing” crash that killed an unborn baby and left two young women with significant injuries.

Russell Leslie Curtis, 41, was driving a 24 tonne crane truck along a country road at Ilkley on the Sunshine Coast on March 29, 2021, when he lost control of the vehicle.

Police prosecutor Amanda Brewer said Curtis crossed over onto the wrong side of the road and collided with a Mazda sedan that was approaching from the opposite direction.

“There was evidence of the defendant trying to correct the crane however it collided head on into the Mazda with significant impact,” Sergeant Brewer said.

Russell Curtis pleaded guilty to driving without due care or attention causing grievous bodily harm.

“His carelessness amounted to a tragic outcome.”

Inside the Mazda were two young women, now both aged 20, by the names of Harlee Henderson and Charlie Harris.

Ms Henderson was 26 weeks pregnant at the time and as a result of the crash lost her unborn son they had called Nathan Joel.

Ms Henderson and Ms Harris, who had been friends for over seven years, suffered “extensive” injuries that resulted in months of time spent in hospital recovering.

Parts of Ms Henderson’s victim impact statement were read aloud in court highlighting the ongoing impact the crash had caused.

Ms Henderson (left) and Ms Harris (right) spoke out about the ongoing impacts of a crash that killed unborn baby Nathan Joel.

“The impact is something that will always haunt me ... it all happened in slow motion, I thought I was going to be paralysed, the wait for help felt like forever,” she said in her statement.

“At first I didn’t realise how the steering wheel was jammed into my stomach that was the home to my son.”

Ms Henderson told the Sunshine Coast Daily she was about to have her fourth round of surgery after breaking both her femurs, her tibia, her ankle and a rib.

She also had an emergency c-section, was unable to walk for seven weeks and had to quit her job.

Two young women have been left with life changing injuries as a result of a head on collision on the Sunshine Coast that caused the death of an unborn baby boy.

“I was now a 19-year-old bereaved parent with a bunch of life changing injuries,” she said.

“Everything I enjoyed and loved before the accident was taken away in a split second.”

Ms Harris said in her victim impact statement how her life “flashed before her eyes” when the crane slammed into their car.

She fractured part of her neck, her rib and now has to undergo knee surgery.

In Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Friday, Curtis pleaded guilty to driving without due care or attention causing grievous bodily harm.

Two young women have been left with life changing injuries as a result of a head on collision on the Sunshine Coast that caused the death of an unborn baby boy.

Defence Barrister Ryan said his client will lose his employment as a result of being disqualified from driving.

Mr Ryan said Curtis was remorseful and had to live with the consequences of his actions.

Magistrate Hadyn Stjernqvist said the incident was “out of character” for Curtis who had no criminal history.

He said the victim impact statements were very distressing to read.

Russell Curtis pleaded guilty to driving without due care or attention causing grievous bodily harm.

“Collectively they communicate a sense of luck that they are even here today with their loved ones,” Mr Stjernqvist said.

Curtis was fined $3000 and ordered to pay $1000 compensation to each victim.

He was disqualified for six months and no conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Russell Leslie Curtis in court for death of unborn baby in ‘harrowing’ crash