Queensland Police allege international tourist deliberately ran into group on Sunshine Coast footpath after ‘minor altercation’

Multiple people have been left injured with one woman fighting for life after a car driven by an overseas tourist ploughed into pedestrians on the Sunshine Coast in a shocking alleged hit-and-run.

Police allege a white Toyota Yaris mounted a curb on Aerodrome Rd in Maroochydore, striking eight people just before midnight on Saturday.

Paramedics rushed to the scene and treated four people, including a 23-year-old woman with significant injuries who had flown up from NSW to visit family before Christmas just days earlier.

She was taken to Sunshine Coast University Hospital before being airlifted to Brisbane in a life-threatening condition.

A teenage boy assessed in a potentially life-threatening condition with head injuries, as well as two other teenage boys with minor injuries, all aged between 18 and 19 were taken to Sunshine Coast University Hospital.

Police said a 38-year-old man driving the Toyota fled the scene in his car following the crash.

Detective Acting Inspector Peter Hocken said the incident was sparked by a minor altercation involving the driver and a group of six teenage boys who were crossing the road at a pedestrian crossing minutes earlier.

The driver returned with his car shortly after and allegedly made an “intentional, deliberate act” to “drive his car into the sidewalk to hit those pedestrians” before fleeing the scene, Hocken said.

Police said the driver was found by officers a short time later at a nearby address and taken into custody.

He has been charged with eight counts of attempted murder.

The critically injured 23-year-old woman and her female companion were unknown to the group of boys, and “just happened to be walking on that sidewalk at that time”.

“(It’s) unbelievable, terrible,” Hocken said.

“(Allegedly) driving a car at speed toward people on a sidewalk, there could have been eight fatalities.”

Hocken said the woman remained “very unwell” in hospital and her family in NSW were flying up to be with her.

“This is a tragedy, it’s terrible what’s happened for this poor woman and her family before Christmas. It’s inconceivable really,” he said.

Police confirmed the driver was an overseas tourist who was currently staying on the Sunshine Coast.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been contacted for comment.

The accused will appear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Monday.

Investigations remain ongoing and anyone with information that could assist is urged to contact police.