{"id":347649,"date":"2025-12-14T14:56:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-14T14:56:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/347649\/"},"modified":"2025-12-14T14:56:11","modified_gmt":"2025-12-14T14:56:11","slug":"queensland-police-allege-international-tourist-deliberately-ran-into-group-on-sunshine-coast-footpath-after-minor-altercation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/347649\/","title":{"rendered":"Queensland Police allege international tourist deliberately ran into group on Sunshine Coast footpath after \u2018minor altercation\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Multiple people have been left injured with one woman fighting for life after a car driven by an overseas tourist ploughed into pedestrians on the Sunshine Coast<\/a> in a shocking alleged hit-and-run.<\/p>\n

Police allege a white Toyota Yaris mounted a curb on Aerodrome Rd in Maroochydore, striking eight people just before midnight on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Paramedics rushed to the scene and treated four people, including a 23-year-old woman with significant injuries who had flown up from NSW<\/a> to visit family before Christmas just days earlier.<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n

She was taken to Sunshine Coast University Hospital before being airlifted to Brisbane in a life-threatening condition.<\/p>\n

A teenage boy assessed in a potentially life-threatening condition with head injuries, as well as two other teenage boys with minor injuries, all aged between 18 and 19 were taken to Sunshine Coast University Hospital.<\/p>\n

Police said a 38-year-old man driving the Toyota fled the scene in his car following the crash.<\/p>\n

Detective Acting Inspector Peter Hocken said the incident was sparked by a minor altercation involving the driver and a group of six teenage boys who were crossing the road at a pedestrian crossing minutes earlier.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe footpath where eight people were struck by a car in Maroochydore. Credit: 7NEWS<\/p>\n

The driver returned with his car shortly after and allegedly made an \u201cintentional, deliberate act\u201d to \u201cdrive his car into the sidewalk to hit those pedestrians\u201d before fleeing the scene, Hocken said.<\/p>\n

Police said the driver was found by officers a short time later at a nearby address and taken into custody.<\/p>\n

He has been charged with eight counts of attempted murder.<\/p>\n

The critically injured 23-year-old woman and her female companion were unknown to the group of boys, and \u201cjust happened to be walking on that sidewalk at that time\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201c(It\u2019s) unbelievable, terrible,\u201d Hocken said.<\/p>\n

\u201c(Allegedly) driving a car at speed toward people on a sidewalk, there could have been eight fatalities.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hocken said the woman remained \u201cvery unwell\u201d in hospital and her family in NSW were flying up to be with her.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a tragedy, it\u2019s terrible what\u2019s happened for this poor woman and her family before Christmas. It\u2019s inconceivable really,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Police confirmed the driver was an overseas tourist who was currently staying on the Sunshine Coast.<\/p>\n

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been contacted for comment.<\/p>\n

The accused will appear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Monday.<\/p>\n

Investigations remain ongoing and anyone with information that could assist is urged to contact police.<\/p>\n

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