Tourist charged with attempted murder over hit-and-run
A tourist has been charged with eight counts of attempted murder after a minor altercation escalated into a hit-and-run that left a woman critically injured.
An overseas tourist has been charged with eight counts of attempted murder after allegedly ploughing his car into pedestrians in what police say was a deliberate hit-and-run.
Emergency services were called to Aerodrome Road in Maroochydore on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast just before midnight on Saturday, following reports a white Toyota Yaris had struck a group of eight pedestrians.
A 24-year-old woman suffered life-threatening injuries and was flown to hospital in a critical condition.
Three other pedestrians, including two 18-year-old men and a 19-year-old man, were also taken to hospital with serious injuries.
The 38-year-old driver of the Toyota Yaris fled the scene but was arrested at a nearby residence a short time later. Police said the man was an international tourist.
You might like
Detective Acting Inspector Peter Hocken said police believed the pedestrians were struck in a deliberate attack.
“The evidence we’ve received at the scene, we’re treating this as an intentional, deliberate act,” he said on Sunday.
Hocken said the driver and a group of men were involved in a “minor” altercation shortly before the alleged attack.
“The incident prior lasted only a few minutes. It was minor in nature,” he said.
Stay informed, daily
“The males, I believe, were crossing the road at a pedestrian crossing and the male driver took offence to that.”
Police allege the man drove off before returning soon after and driving onto the footpath where six men and two women were walking.
Hocken said the men and women did not know each other.
“They just happened to be walking on that sidewalk at that time,” he said.
The 24-year-old woman had travelled from NSW on a surprise visit to family.
“She was minding her business walking on the side of the road when she was struck by this vehicle,” Hocken said.
“A family is flying up from NSW to be with their daughter who arrived in Queensland just to spend some time with family, just before Christmas.”
The driver will face Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Monday.
-with AAP
