14yo driver on meth when he caused near-fatal crash, court hears

Court refuses bail for teen driver facing grievous bodily harm, drugs offences In short: A 14-year-old boy caused a crash that nearly killed other drivers and caused a woman to have a miscarriage, a court heard. Police allege he tested positive for methamphetamine at the scene, and caused another crash after being discharged from hospital. What's next? The magistrate refused bail and adjourned his case to November. A 14-year-old boy was under the influence of methamphetamine and driving with his girlfriend on his lap when he caused a crash that could have killed other drivers, a court has heard. The boy, now 15, is facing charges including dangerous operation of a vehicle causing grievous bodily harm and possessing dangerous drugs over the incident in April. He appeared via videolink for a bail application before Hervey Bay Children's Court on Thursday, a long red fringe covering his downcast face as the prosecution outlined the police allegations. Police prosecutor Lisa Fulcher told the court that on April 30, the boy was driving a Mitsubishi Lancer on a road between Maryborough and Hervey Bay, about three hours' drive north of Brisbane. The court heard the boy was driving with his girlfriend on his lap and another juvenile sitting on the centre console between the driver's and front passenger seat. Ms Fulcher told the court witnesses described the Lancer as being "out of control" before it collided with another vehicle. One of the other vehicle's occupants sustained serious injuries in the crash and was alleged to have lost an unborn child, the court heard. The Lancer then veered onto the wrong side of the road and collided head-on with a Volkswagen Polo containing a couple and their two-year-old child, the court heard. Ms Fulcher told the court the couple received injuries consistent with grievous bodily harm. "Without medical intervention they would have died, or been left with serious permanent disfigurement,"she said. A blood sample was taken from the boy at the scene, which later tested positive to methamphetamine, the court heard. Ms Fulcher told the court the boy was not immediately charged and was taken to hospital due to the serious nature of the crash. Police issued an arrest warrant to locate the boy following his discharge from hospital, after he was unable to be found and did not respond to attempts to contact him. Police allege the boy caused another crash on August 18, with mobile phone footage showing other juveniles were in the car. He was located following this incident and arrested on August 24. Ms Fulcher told the court police opposed bail for the boy, saying the case against him was strong and it was likely he would face a term of imprisonment given the stronger Adult Crime, Adult Time laws. The boy's lawyer, Melissa Guilfoyle, told the court he had been living with his mother and stepfather when his grandfather, with whom he had been close, died suddenly last year. The boy went to live with his father around the end of last year until his father was taken into custody, the court heard. Ms Guilfoyle told the court the boy did not return to live with his mother and had been living at various addresses in Maryborough and Hervey Bay since that time. He wanted to work as a panel beater and planned to undertake a school-based apprenticeship if released on bail, the court heard. Ms Guilfoyle told the court the boy was willing to undertake a conditional bail program, including courses to address his methamphetamine use, and that he had been assessed as suitable for an electronic monitoring device. The boy's mother covered her mouth with her hand and wept as Magistrate Trinity McGarvie explained why she was refusing her son's bail application. His evasion of police and alleged reoffending following the crash in April meant he posed an unacceptable risk to the community if released on bail, Ms McGarvie said. The boy was remanded in custody and his case adjourned to a committal mention hearing on November 11.