By Sonia Isaacs
A 41-year-old Tewantin man has been charged with 15 offences following a deadly crash and a series of violent incidents on the Sunshine Coast on Monday, April 21.
Bradley Donald Towle is accused of causing a six-vehicle crash around 12.10pm on the Bruce Highway at Palmview, while allegedly driving a red Porsche Macan. Police allege Mr Towle lost control and struck the passenger side of a Nissan Micra, killing a 22-year-old Upper Mount Gravatt woman. The driver of the Micra, a 22-year-old man from Strathpine, sustained minor injuries and was transported to hospital.
In the aftermath of the crash, Towle allegedly exited the Porsche and approached a white SsangYong Rexton while armed with a firearm. The Rexton’s driver, a 62-year-old Branyan man, had stopped to assist those involved in the collision. Following an altercation, Mr Towle allegedly shot the man in the arm and fled the scene in the stolen vehicle.
The injured driver was transported to Sunshine Coast University Hospital for treatment. Around 12.35pm, police located the crashed Rexton on Steve Irwin Way, Landsborough.
It is further alleged Towle then approached a grey Mazda 3, again armed, and threatened a 16-year-old Newmarket girl and her parents. The family fled the vehicle and were physically unharmed.
Mr Towle was arrested at 12.48pm at the intersection of Steve Irwin Way and Forestry Road. A firearm was recovered inside the vehicle. He sustained head and body injuries during the incidents and was taken to hospital under police guard.
Queensland Police Chief Inspector Jason Overland described the incident as a “tragic” end to the school holiday period during a press conference at Caloundra Police Station on Easter Monday.
Mr Towle was scheduled to appear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Tuesday, April 23, but the hearing was adjourned to the following day. Magistrate Rodney Madsen remanded him in custody until the case returns to court late June.