Brazilian tourist accused of ploughing car into pedestrians faces court

A 38-year-old Brazilian man has been remanded in custody after allegedly ploughing his car into a group of eight pedestrians following what police described as a “minor” altercation on Saturday night.

Guilherme Dal Bo faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court by videolink on eight counts of attempted murder on Monday.

His case was adjourned until Friday pending a possible upgrade to one of the charges.

A 24-year-old woman is fighting for her life in Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital after the horrific incident on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

Police allege the tourist became involved in a minor verbal altercation with a group of men at a pedestrian crossing in Maroochydore while driving a white Toyota Yaris.

Dal Bo is then alleged to have driven on, before circling back and mounting the kerb, hitting two women and six men head-on.

The 24-year-old woman, two 18-year-old men and a 19-year-old man were seriously injured.

The young woman was flown to hospital in a critical condition.

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 to visit family as a surprise.

“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.”

He said the men had moved on and were minding their business when they observed the vehicle come back.

“Most reasonable people drive home and go to bed,” Hocken said.

Police alleged the driver then fled the scene, dumping his car near his unit.

Dal Bo, a tourist from Brazil who also has Italian and Australian nationality, spoke little in his brief appearance before acting magistrate Maxine Baldwin.

AAP

Get alerts on significant breaking news as happens. Sign up for our Breaking News Alert.