Teenager’s Life-Changing Ordeal: 19-Year-Old Charged Over Rodeo Horror That Left Young Man with Collapsed Lung and Broken Ribs
- A 19-year-old man has been charged with careless driving and exceeding the blood alcohol limit after allegedly running over a sleeping teenager at a rodeo event in Western Australia.
- The victim, 18-year-old Toby Eardley, suffered a collapsed lung and broken ribs and was airlifted to hospital after the incident at the Robe River Rodeo in Pannawonica.
- A crowdfunding campaign raised over $18,000 to support Eardley’s recovery, as the accused prepares to face court next month.
A devastating incident at a Western Australian rodeo has left a young man’s life forever changed, and a 19-year-old facing serious charges. On September 7, Toby Eardley, 18, was sleeping in a swag at the Robe River Rodeo in Pannawonica when he was run over by a grey Nissan Patrol driven by a 19-year-old man from South Hedland.
According to police, the accused was driving in the early hours of the morning when he struck the corner of Eardley’s swag, causing severe injuries, including a collapsed lung and broken ribs. Eardley was rushed to hospital and later airlifted to Perth for treatment.
As news of the incident spread, a crowdfunding campaign was launched to support Eardley’s recovery, raising over $18,000. The community rallied around the young man, who is no longer in hospital and on the road to recovery.
The accused, who has been charged with careless driving causing grievous bodily harm or bodily harm and exceeding 0.05g of alcohol per 100ml of blood, is due to face the Carnarvon Magistrates Court on December 22.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the small community of Pannawonica, which hosts the annual Robe River Rodeo, attracting thousands of visitors from across the region.
As the accused prepares to face court, Eardley and his family are focused on his recovery and rebuilding their lives after this traumatic event.