Car attack allegedly followed confrontation at pedestrian crossing

The man that allegedly ploughed his car into eight pedestrians on the Sunshine Coast – causing life-threatening injuries – was involved in a confrontation minutes earlier with some of the group.

A white Toyota Yaris hatchback allegedly struck the crowd near the intersection of Fourth Avenue and Aerodrome Road at Maroochydore just before midnight on Saturday.

The 38-year-old driver fled the scene and dumped the car nearby, but was tracked by police to an apartment on Alexandra Parade along the beachfront a short time later.

On Sunday afternoon police confirmed he had been charged with eight counts of attempted murder. The man was scheduled to appear at Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Monday.

Police said he was not an Australian citizen, but had been living on the Sunshine Coast.

A 23-year-old woman from New South Wales was taken to Sunshine Coast University Hospital with critical injuries immediately after the crash, before being airlifted to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.

A male teenager suffered potentially life-threatening head injuries and was also taken to the Sunshine Coast hospital with two others, who were in a stable condition.

Detective inspector Peter Hocken revealed on Sunday afternoon police believed the man had clashed with some of the injured men earlier in the night, while they were attempting to cross at a pedestrian crossing. He may have been impacted by alcohol.

“It’s completely unexplainable,” Hocken told reporters in Maroochydore.

“He was obviously aggrieved at the first incident and has returned with his vehicle.”

The woman fighting for life was unknown to the men, and just happened to be walking near them with a friend. She was visiting family on a surprise visit before Christmas.

“She was minding her own business walking on the side of the road when she was struck,” Hocken added.

“I believe … he’s made an overt action to get in front of them. He’s then mounted the curb and driven a period of distance on the footpath.”

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.