Girl faces charges over stolen car crash that left a teenager with critical injuries
A teenage girl allegedly drove a stolen car almost 50 kilometres down a winding mountain road before hitting a tree on the south side of Cairns.
Police have charged the 13-year-old with multiple offences including serious assault of a police officer who was guarding the girl while she was being treated in hospital for injuries sustained in the crash.
It’s alleged the car was stolen from Kuranda, west of Cairns, on Monday afternoon.
Police said the girl drove the car down the Kuranda Range road with two teenage boys onboard. They travelled through Cairns on to a multi-lane motorway in the city’s south.
Police said the driver lost control and crashed into a tree at Edmonton. The two boys were injured, one critically. He remains in Townsville Hospital.
The police Ethical Standards Command will review the response to the incident.
Detective Inspector Kevin Goan said police were aware the vehicle had been stolen, but they were not in pursuit of it at the time of the crash.
“What is concerning to us is that we have an inexperienced driver traversing a notorious stretch of road in the Kuranda Range road.
“We have an inexperienced young driver driving on a three-lane motorway at a time where other lawful road users are there.
“We are really thankful there has been no innocent third party injured as a result of this happening.
“It is devastating and shocking for our first responders to come across young people badly injured in road trauma.”
The 13-year-old Kuranda girl has been refused bail and will appear in the Cairns Children’s Court charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing grievous bodily harm while excessively speeding, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, unlicensed driving, and serious assault of a police officer.
A 17-year-old Earlville boy was charged with one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and will appear in the Cairns Children’s Court.
