An international tourist has been charged with eight counts of attempted murder after allegedly ploughing his car into pedestrians in what police say was a deliberate hit-and-run.
Emergency services were called to Aerodrome Road at Maroochydore following reports a white Toyota Yaris had struck a group of eight pedestrians just before midnight on Saturday.
A 24-year-old woman was airlifted to hospital in a critical condition after sustaining life-threatening injuries.
Three other pedestrians, including two 18-year-old men and a 19-year-old man, were also taken to hospital with serious injuries.
The 38-year-old driver of the Toyota Yaris fled the scene and was arrested at a nearby residence a short time later.
Police said the man was an international tourist.
Detective Acting Inspector Peter Hocken said police believe the pedestrians were struck in a deliberate attack.
“The evidence we’ve received at the scene, we’re treating this as an intentional, deliberate act,” he told reporters on Sunday.
Det Insp Hocken said the driver and a group of men had become embroiled in a “minor” altercation a short time before the alleged attack.
“The incident prior lasted only a few minutes. It was minor in nature,” he said.
“The males, I believe, were crossing the road at a pedestrian crossing and the male driver took offence to that.”
Police allege the man drove off before returning a short time later, mounting the footpath where six males and two females were walking.
Det Insp Hocken said the men and women did not know each other.
“They just happened to be walking on that sidewalk at that time,” he said.
The 24-year-old woman had travelled from NSW to visit family as a surprise.
“She was minding her business walking on the side of the road when she was struck by this vehicle,” Det Insp Hocken said.
“A family is flying up from NSW to be with their daughter who arrived in Queensland just to spend some time with family, just before Christmas.”
The driver is due to face Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Monday.
