Yahoo Finance 'Exceptionally selfish': Police shocked by 'catastrophic' discovery in back of ute
Police made a startling discovery when they pulled over a ute on a Queensland highway last month.
On February 28 at around 6pm, officers intercepted a speeding driver on the Ipswich Motorway at Wacol and asked the diver and passenger what was behind their seats.
After instructing the pair to move their chairs forward, shocked officers spotted a seven-year-old girl wedged behind the passenger seat on the floor.
"You know she can't be in there, don't you?" the officer says.
The officer then explains that someone is going to have to come pick the girl up, so she can travel in a proper seat.
The driver was allegedly travelling 15km over the speed limit and received a fine upwards of $900.
In a press release issued on Monday afternoon, Acting Chief Superintendent Ray Rohweder condemned the actions of the driver.
“It’s this type of behaviour that would have catastrophic consequences if the driver crashed,” he said.
“What makes this exceptionally selfish is the driver took the decision of the girl’s safety out of her hands.”
Pictures show 'horrifying aftermath' of deadly road accident
Terrifying moment driver forces car through zebra crossing full of school kids
Fifty deaths on Queensland roads this year
Fifty people have died on Queensland's roads already this year, compared to 32 lives lost in the same time-frame last year.
Of those who have died, 19 were motorcyclists, which is a dramatic increase from the six the year before.
Acting Chief Superintendent Rohweder called out the lack of responsibility shown by Queensland drivers, saying officers observe motorists making "reckless" decisions every day.
He called for people to take responsibility for their actions while behind the wheel.
“While police are on our roads deterring people from committing offences, it’s up to you to be accountable for your actions," he said.
“Whether it’s making better decisions while driving or preventing your mates from getting behind a wheel, responsibility to make our roads a safer place starts with you.”
Just last weekend, Queensland Police detected 100 drivers who were drink-driving and 84 who had drugs in their system.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
