15yo boy critical after stolen car crashes into tree in McEwen St, Mooroobool
Police have charged two boys after an alleged spree involving the theft of a car and fuel, a break-in at a business in Innisfail, and a crash in suburban Cairns that left another teen in a critical condition.
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Police have charged two boys after an alleged spree involving the theft of a car and fuel, a break-in at a business in Innisfail, and a crash in suburban Cairns that critically injured another teen.
On Monday morning, a 15-year-old who was a passenger in an allegedly stolen black 2023 Haval Jolion is fighting for his life in Townsville University Hospital.
He suffered serious head injuries when the allegedly stolen car slammed into a tree at speed in McEwen St, Mooroobool, at 8.50am on Sunday morning.
Moments after the impact his three friends fled the scene of the crash on foot, leaving him behind.
Police allege the Haval Jolion was stolen from a home in Mount Sheridan at 3am on Sunday morning.
It is alleged the occupants of the vehicle stole fuel at Gordonvale, broke into an Innisfail business, and attempted to break into another vehicle in Innisfail before being disturbed by a member of the public.
Police will also allege the stolen vehicle was seen driving erratically and at high speed on the Bruce Highway at Babinda at about 8am yesterday, before the vehicle crashed into a tree in Mooroobool 50 minutes later.
Police located the three boys aged 14, 15 and 12, at a nearby shopping centre a short time later, and all were conveyed to Cairns Hospital for medical assessments.
The 12-year-old boy sustained a fractured pelvis, whilst the 14 and 15-year-old boys were not injured.
The 14-year-old boy was charged with two counts of dangerous operation causing grievous bodily harm, one count each of enter dwelling with intent and commit, stealing, enter premises and commit, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and unlicensed driving.
A 15-year-old boy was charged with one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, two counts of enter premises and commit, and one count of stealing.
Both are scheduled to appear in the Cairns Childrens Court today.
Investigations are ongoing and police are appealing for dash camera vision of the Haval Jolion.
On Sunday, by the time Queensland Fire Department teams arrived at the scene, the injured boy was free of the vehicle.
He was treated at the scene for a head injury, before being taken by ambulance to Cairns Hospital in a life-threatening condition.
The stolen vehicle was on the radar of police after it was spotted driving erratically in Bentley Park and as far south as Innisfail, but Inspector Jamie Horn said there was no active pursuit of the car before the McEwen St crash.
“Police had no engagement with it at all,” he said.
So far this year 745 vehicles have been stolen throughout Cairns.
The 2024 stolen car total looks set to surpass the 804 cars stolen in 2023, but it’s unlikely the record number of 1299 cars stolen in 2022 will be broken this year.
Given the large volume of cars ripped off and the skill level of teens behind the wheel, Inspector Horn said there had been relatively few serious road crashes involving stolen cars.
“We’re in a pretty good position with the amount of actual crashes that occur,” he said.
“(But) it is such a high risk behaviour, if you’re going to be involved in driving a vehicle as a young person, unlicensed, whether stolen or not stolen, that it’s high risk to them, it’s high risk to the community.
#Mooroobool - Paramedics are assessing a patient with a life-threatening head injury at the scene of a single-vehicle crash on Mcewen Street at 8.52am.
— Queensland Ambulance (@QldAmbulance) November 30, 2024
“We’ve got young people that aren’t equipped to handle a motor vehicle on the road and that elevates the risk for the occupants and the community.”
Inspector Horn described the boy’s injuries as very serious.
He said making one poor decision in no way diminished the value of the young offender’s life and he wished the boy a speedy recovery.
“We are wishing well for the young person involved that’s getting treatment, we hope everything works out for him,” he said.
Police set up a crime scene around the wrecked car in suburban Mooroobool on Sunday morning while the Forensic Crash Unit collected evidence.
“Speed, manner of driving, it’ll all be taken into account during that investigation,” Inspector Horn said.
The boy was transferred from Cairns to Townsville University Hospital in a critical condition on Sunday.
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Originally published as 15yo boy critical after stolen car crashes into tree in McEwen St, Mooroobool
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