Townsville vigilante charged over high-speed car chase gone wrong
A Queensland vigilante who drove his car at high speed on the wrong side of the road in a bid to chase down a stolen car has been charged.
The 48-year-old started pursuing the stolen Hyundai Santa Fe after spotting it being driven dangerously in Townsville late on Saturday.
He allegedly drove his Ford Falcon on the wrong side of the road at high speed through stop signs before the stolen crashed, police said.
āThe stolen Hyundai failed to take a corner and crashed into a power pole which damaged the electricity network,ā Acting District Superintendent Sean Dugger said.
āHis involvement precipitated the accident into the power pole.ā
The man is also accused of mounting a curb in an attempt to ābox inā the three juvenile occupants of the stolen Hyundai after the accident.
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They fled the crash scene through a nearby home.
āOf concern is that the man had chased the three occupants when theyāre on foot with his vehicle,ā he said.
āBy the grace of God and good luck, a car travelling at speed and colliding with a power pole ā¦ it appears no one was seriously injured.ā
Police later arrested a 13-year-old boy who was found hiding under a house but the other two juveniles got away.
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The teen was charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle, trespass and possession of dangerous drugs.
The man was also arrested. Officers found a tyre iron in his car and allege the man intended to use it against the thieves.
He was charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle, possession of a weapon and driving an unregistered vehicle.
The man is scheduled to appear in Townsville Magistrates Court on December 2.
āThe actions of vigilantes not only put their own lives potentially at risk, but those of innocent members of the community,ā Supt Dugger said.
āIt doesnāt take a great deal of imagination to realise that three young offenders crashing into a power pole could have been a tragedy.ā
-AAP
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