Police have charged a teenage boy with a string of offences including drink driving after a ute with a shopping trolley trailer was allegedly stolen and driven dangerously across the Sunshine Coast last night.
It will be alleged around 7:10pm police received reports a boy had stolen a ute with a 6-metre trailer attached from the car park of a shopping centre at Buddina while an employee was returning trollies.
Witnesses allegedly saw the vehicle leave north along Nicklin Way with the trailer ramps down, dragging on the road and showering other motorists with sparks.
A short time later officers from Kawana Waters Station spotted the stolen vehicle and trailer near the Bruce Highway interchange and attempted to intercept, however the driver allegedly failed to stop.
Police continued to follow the ute as it allegedly travelled through red traffic signals and southbound along the Bruce Highway.
The vehicle then executed a u-turn near Roys Road before heading north to Palmview, where tyre deflation device was successfully deployed, puncturing the front two tyres.
The ute came to a stop a short distance away and the alleged driver, a 17-year-old Gympie boy, was taken into custody at the scene.
The boy allegedly returned a positive roadside breath analysis and was transported to Maroochydore Watchhouse where he produced a BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration) of 0.092%.
He was charged with four counts of wilful damage, two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and one count each of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, drink driving, evasion, public nuisance, and failing to comply with learner licence provisions.
The boy will be dealt with under the provisions of the Youth Justice Act.
