Emma Pritchard
A teenager has been charged and another remains in hospital following a serious traffic incident in Grafton last week.
Shortly after 8am on March 2, emergency services and officers attached to the Coffs/Clarence Police District attended the scene at the intersection of Oliver Street and Clarence Street, after a Toyota Kluger SUV and an Isuzu truck collided.
The impact of the collision resulted in the SUV mounting a grass verge nearby and flipping onto its side before coming to rest in a nearby front garden.
The driver of the SUV, a 16-year-old male, and front seat passenger, a 19-year-old male, allegedly fled the scene before they were located nearby.
The remaining occupant of the vehicle, a 15-year-old male, was treated at the scene for a serious leg injury by NSW Ambulance paramedics prior to being transported to Coffs Harbour Health Campus.
He was later conveyed to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle for further treatment.
The driver of the Isuzu truck, a 43-year-old male, was also treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics at the scene for non-life-threatening injuries before being transported to Coffs Harbour Health Campus for further treatment.
A crime scene was established, and specialist officers from the Crash Investigation Unit (CIU) are continuing their investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
It is alleged the Toyota Kluger SUV had been stolen from a nearby residence in Turf Street at 4am, only hours prior to the incident occurring.
The owner told the Clarence Valley Independent they awoke to discover the vehicle being reversed out of their driveway at speed.
It was later discovered their premises had also been broken into.
The vehicles keys, along with a handbag and a wallet were also taken.
Following inquiries, the 16-year-old driver was charged with eight offences including aggravated dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, cause bodily harm by misconduct in charge of motor vehicle, take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, negligent driving (occasions grievous bodily harm), fail to stop and assist after vehicle impact causing grievous bodily harm, never licensed person drive vehicle on road – prior offence, and aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence-people there.
He was refused bail and appeared before a Children’s Court on March 3.
Residents in the vicinity of the Oliver Street and Clarence Street intersection said they heard a vehicle travelling at speed in the area moments before the incident occurred.
They reported hearing a series of loud bangs and raced outside to see what had occurred.
One resident said neighbours had run from all directions to render assistance following the crash.
“It was a bloody miracle no one was killed,” they said.
The intersection was cordoned off by police and remained closed for several hours following the incident.
Inquiries remain ongoing.