Ute driven by teen in sand dunes collides with quad bike injuring 44yo man

Two teenagers were involved in an off-road crash between a vehicle and a quad bike in sand dunes north of Geraldton on Wednesday. Traffic police are investigating the crash, which resulted in a 44-year-old man in hospital with broken bones and a “panicked” teenage driver allegedly leaving the scene. Police say about 11.50am on a sand dune track near Poseidon Way in Glenfield, a 14-year-old-boy was driving a vehicle with an adult passenger when it collided with a 44-year-old man and 15-year-old girl riding a quad bike. Geraldton traffic officer-in-charge Sgt George Tilbury said a blue quad bike was travelling in a westerly direction around a left-hand bend when a gold Holden Rodeo utility was travelling in an easterly direction, turning right on the same track. According to police, vegetation obscured the vision of both drivers. “Both vehicles collided head-on causing the quad bike rider to be thrown over the handlebars on to the bonnet of the Holden Rodeo utility,” Sgt Tilbury said. “The driver of the Holden Rodeo utility has panicked and driven home.” The 44-year-old quad bike rider and his 15-year-old pillion passenger received injuries and required medical treatment at Geraldton Health Campus. Sgt Tilbury confirmed the 44-year-old man received a broken left tibia and fibia, a fracture above the knee and a fracture to his right wrist. “Although a licence is not required for vehicles driven off-road, it is still important to ensure that persons driving them have the skill, knowledge and capability to operate them safely,” Sgt Tilbury said. “Permission must be sought from the owner of private property to use vehicles on it. If a road is driven on, even just to cross it to get to private land, all traffic offences apply and offenders will be prosecuted.” On Thursday afternoon, WA Country Health Service confirmed the 15-year-old was discharged and the 44-year-old man was in a stable condition. Geraldton traffic officers will continue conducting inquiries in relation to possible charges.