Chaotic Carnage: Man, 59, Charged After Allegedly Stealing Caravan, Crashing into Ditch, and Running Over Family Dog – Leaving Three Young Children Trapped Inside
- Three children, aged 7, 5, and 2, miraculously escape injury after being trapped inside a crashed caravan in the Gold Coast hinterland.
- A 59-year-old man has been charged with unlawful use and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle after allegedly stealing the caravan and towing it down a hill with the children inside.
- The family’s dog, a female Rottweiler, suffered head injuries and two broken legs after being run over during the chaotic incident.
A shocking scene unfolded in the Gold Coast hinterland on Tuesday evening when a 59-year-old man allegedly stole a caravan and crashed it into a ditch, leaving three young children trapped inside and their family dog fighting for its life.
According to police, the man used a single ratchet strap to hook the caravan to the back of his SUV before towing it away from a Glenrowan Drive property in Tallai around 5:30 pm. As he drove down a hill, the caravan gained speed and overtook the car, resulting in a catastrophic crash that saw both vehicles careen into a ditch.
In a heartbreaking development, the family’s dog, a female Rottweiler, was run over during the incident and suffered head injuries and two broken legs. The dog was rushed to the vet for treatment, leaving the family in a state of distress.
Miraculously, the three children, aged 7, 5, and 2, who were inside the caravan at the time of the crash, escaped injury. Their 40-year-old mother, who was watching in horror, climbed on top of the caravan and rescued the children through a skylight.
Neighbours revealed that the man had recently rented a spot on the driveway to the woman and her children, who were not related to him. The property had previously been the site of a devastating fire that destroyed half of the house last year.
Detectives were seen inspecting the crashed caravan and badly damaged SUV outside the home, as they pieced together the events leading up to the chaotic incident.
The man was taken to hospital under police guard and has been charged with unlawful use and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle. He will face the Southport Magistrates Court in November.