Serial Queensland Speeder at 150 Kilometres per Hour Before Crash

Serial Queensland Speeder at 150 Kilometres per Hour Before Crash
Queensland Police stop vehicles at a checkpoint set up at the Queensland and NSW border in Coolangatta on the Gold Coast, Australia, on March 26, 2020. (Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
AAP
By AAP
1/23/2023
Updated:
1/23/2023

A man with almost 50 prior speeding convictions exceeded 150km/h (93 miles per hour) on a suburban Brisbane street before colliding with another vehicle, a court has heard.

CCTV footage was shown in Brisbane District Court of Gregory Michael Scanlan’s vehicle moments before the crash at Bulimba in November 2018 which hospitalised the other car’s two occupants.

Scanlan’s blue Audi can be seen travelling down Henderson Street faster 150km/h in the early afternoon, the court heard on Monday.

In other footage shown, the 49-year-old’s vehicle is driving along Brisbane St moments later in excess of the speed limit before a loud crash can be heard.

Scanlan’s Audi was travelling at almost 59km/h in a 50km zone at the time of impact, the court was told.

His vehicle hit a home’s front fence after the collision with the other car, a Toyota Corolla, at an intersection in Brisbane’s inner north.

The Corolla’s two occupants were taken to hospital and have no recollection of the incident.

Scanlan had 48 prior speeding convictions and his licence had previously been suspended six times, the court heard.

He was just two months into a fourth 12-month good behaviour licence restriction at the time of the Bulimba collision.

“His actions were reckless and irresponsible,” the crown prosecutor said.

Scanlan on Monday pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a vehicle while excessively speeding, but his sentencing has been delayed after Judge Michael Burnett recused himself from the matter.

Judge Burnett made the decision after the defence argued Scanlan may not have been responsible for the collision.

Scanlan’s barrister told the court an eye witness had claimed the Corolla had driven through a stop sign before the incident.

Judge Burnett said evidence put before him at previous hearings overwhelmingly supported that Scanlan was entirely responsible for the collision.

“I’ve heard too much evidence to bring a clear mind to this, I’m going to recuse (myself),” he said.

A new sentencing date will be set, with the matter adjourned to next week for mention.