Teenagers charged after allegedly crashing stolen car and robbing cafe

Two teenagers have been charged and two teenagers are in hospital with serious injuries after allegedly stealing a car and crashing it during an alleged spree in a Cairns suburb.

The group of boys, aged between 12 and 15, allegedly stole a black Haval Jolion from a home in Mount Sheridan in southern Cairns about 3am on Sunday morning.

The teenagers drove the vehicle nearly 15km south to Gordonvale, where they allegedly stole fuel.

It’s alleged the boys continued driving south to Innisfail, where they allegedly broke into a cafe about 7.30am.

Shortly after, they tried to break into another business, but left after being disturbed.

Police were alerted to the boys in the car speeding and driving erratically on the Bruce Highway near Babinda, 30km away from the cafe in Innisfail.

About an hour later, at 9am, the car was driving in Cairns suburb Mooroobol when it crashed into a tree.

It’s alleged three of the boys fled the scene, leaving a 15-year-old boy trapped inside the car with critical head injuries. He was flown to Townsville Hospital, where he underwent surgery and remains in a critical condition.

Police located the remaining three boys, aged 12, 14 and 15, at a shopping centre a short time later, where they were conveyed to the hospital for a medical assessment.

The 12-year-old boy sustained a fractured pelvis, and the other two boys were uninjured.

Although the police were alerted to the stolen vehicle driving erratically on their radar in Innisfail, there was no active pursuit of the car.

“Police had no engagement with it at all,” said Inspector Jamie Horn per Cairns Post.

The 14-year-old driver of the vehicle was charged with two counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing grievous bodily harm, one count each of enter dwelling with intent and commit, stealing, enter premises and commit, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and unlicensed driving.

The 14-year-old appeared at children’s court via video link on Monday, where his application for bail was refused.

A 15-year-old boy was charged with one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, two counts of enter premises and commit, and one count of stealing.

He is set to face the children’s court on Tuesday.