‘Stupid': Queensland man's horrific e-scooter crash at busy intersection
In footage captured by a nearby hotel, the man – dressed in a red T-shirt, black shorts, a multi-coloured cap and wearing a black backpack – is seen cruising down Musgrave Street in Berserker just after 1.30pm on July 7.
Directing the e-scooter with one hand, with his phone in the other, the front wheel is seen clipping a small dip as the rider crosses the intersection at Edington St.
He is sent flying over the front of the handlebars before landing heavily on his left arm.
Curling into the foetal position, the man is seen screaming and writhing in pain on the road as a passer-by runs over to help.
Many social media users were unimpressed with the crash, labelling the rider
'stupid' for using his phone while operating the scooter.
'And that my friends is why you wear a helmet ', one wrote.
'I feel for him but it was totally avoidable, don't use your phone while riding,' a second said.
A third added: 'These particular hire scooters are NOT permitted to be ridden on roads, he's also riding against traffic, and using his phone.
'A self inflicted accident on a scooter that is speed limited to 25 km/h.'
'Riding a scooter in the middle of the road while using the mobile phone … God was just giving him a warning,' another joked.
The passer-by, labelled a 'champ' and a 'legend', was commended for coming to the rider's aid so quickly.
It comes only a month after a teenager was killed after falling from his electric scooter in Mareeba, about 60km west of Cairns, in June.
He suffered critical head injuries and died at the scene.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
30 minutes ago
- ABC News
Court orders owner of alleged illegal tobacconists to close businesses for six months
A Queensland judge has ordered a business owner to close five of his Wide Bay stores which health officials allege have been selling unlawful smoking products. In June, a significant quantity of illicit cigarettes, loose tobacco and vapes were allegedly seized during raids on multiple retail premises in Hervey Bay. Earlier this month, Queensland Health launched court action against the owner of some of the stores, Mohammed Alfalahi, seeking a permanent injunction under strengthened tobacco laws. While that matter is pending, on Wednesday, Queensland Health sought an interim injunction of the same effect. Lawyer Peter O'Connor told the court the order would restrict Mr Alfalahi from engaging in the alleged illegal conduct and receiving income from it unlawfully. "Until such time that the substantive proceedings can be finalised," he said. Mr O'Connor told the court the "fundamental question" was whether any of Mr Alfalahi's businesses held a licence to supply smoking products. "There's no assertion by [Mr Alfalahi] that in fact he has or did in fact at any stage," he said. "The evidence, in fact, establishes that he has not ever held such a license." Mr O'Connor told the court, Mr Alfalahi is the tenant of the business premise, and the permitted use according to his lease is a tobacconist or tobacco shop. "He can't claim ignorance of the nature of business operating out of the premises that he is leasing," he said "He similarly cannot claim ignorance of the regulatory scheme given the number of interactions that he has had with the authorities over a substantial period of time." The court heard he had previously paid infringement notices for past contraventions under the legislation. Mr Alfalahi's lawyer James Wallace told the court it had been difficult to get in contact with his client as he lived overseas, and had not been adequately instructed on any possible defence to the allegations. However, Mr Wallace said his client "can't possibly be criticised" for not responding in detail, in what he asserts were inadequate time frames for submitting material, and that this was "not a full hearing on the merits" of the allegations. "I'm not conceding the prima facie case," he said. "I have no evidence to rely on to submit sensibly." It was argued that several employees would lose their jobs if the order was granted and Mr Alfalahi could be at risk of breaching the order due to his limited communication and the impracticality of shutting the stores effective immediately. Mr Wallace argued the balance of convenience should be in favour of his client, as there were separate yet related proceedings due to be heard in the magistrates court later this month. "In theory, in 10 days' time a magistrate will determine whether those five stores should be shut down for six months," he said. "Leaving the status quo would allow the matters to proceed as they are in the magistrates court without pre-emptively finalising the matter." The court heard the magistrate court action and the district court action "complement each other" but they served independent purposes. In the lower court proceedings, Queensland Health is seeking not only closure of the stores for six months, but also enforcement against the landlord to ensure no-one else takes over the lease. Judge Ken Barlow KC granted the interim injunction, accepting there was "no real evidence of substance of any defence". "It seems to me there is no doubt a prima facie case," he said. Judge Barlow KC also rejected the submission Mr Alfalahi could not properly instruct his lawyers. "The communication abilities of the modern world, particularly between Australia and Dubai where [Mr Alfalahi] currently lives, are such that I do not accept that the respondent would not have had the opportunity to be sent the material read and discuss it at length with his solicitors," he said. "While I do not go so far as to infer that there is no possible defence... the absence of any skeleton of any defence does not assist [Mr Alfalahi]." Mr Alfalahi will have until Friday to cease operating the five business. He will also be prohibited from running any other companies which involve the sale of tobacco.
SBS Australia
an hour ago
- SBS Australia
'Bullying, yelling, sexual harassment, underpaid': study finds one in three young workers are ripped off
Deshal Patel moved to Australia from India for higher education, and sought part-time work to get through her studies. Her first job at a jewellery store paid well below the minimum wage. "I was getting paid $13 an hour. I was getting paid in cash, obviously there was no superannuation or penalty rates when I worked over the weekends. My other co-workers were also getting paid the same rate and we didn't have any formal contract or anything like that." In total, Ms Patel says she worked seven jobs where she was underpaid, and in some cases, mistreated. "Bullying, harassment or your employers yelling at you. I also experienced sexual harassment at some of the workplaces, and my experience is not an isolated incident. I know a lot of my friends, peers and co-workers have experienced something very similar. I hear the story again and again, so I would say this is a widespread problem and not an isolated experience." Ms Patel is among the one in three young workers who have been ripped off by employers, according to a new study. Its co-author is Professor John Howe from Melbourne University's Law School. He says young migrants are among the most vulnerable to workplace exploitation. "So if you're on a visa, then you might be worried, whether rightly or not, about losing that visa if you make a complaint. In the case of people from a non-English speaking background, if their English is not great, they may not understand their rights or may not feel confident enough to raise an issue let alone make a complaint." In a survey of more than 2,800 workers under 30, the study found a third of respondents were paid $15 per hour or less. 36 per cent weren't allowed to take breaks they were entitled to, while a similar number, 34 per cent, weren't paid for trial shift work. As many as 60 per cent had to pay for work-related uniforms, equipment and training. "The report's damning but certainly not surprising." Yolanda Robson is director of the Melbourne-based Young Workers Centre, which has spoken to more than 65,000 young people during outreach programs. "If you are a person who identifies as young or queer or coming from a migrant background, then we know you're inherently more at risk of workplace exploitation. That is just fact, that you are over-represented and more likely to be injured at work, taken advantage of, bullied, discriminated on the job. We see it all the time at the Young Workers Centre." And for young people who have recently entered the workforce, she has this message: "Getting taken advantage of doesn't build resilience. What builds resilience is knowing what your rights are and actually going about asserting them with your fellow co-workers. That's what builds resilience, not being exploited." Desha Patel says migrants like her are particularly vulnerable, and she's calling for greater action to stop workplace exploitation. "I really hope to see some systemic changes where these employers are held accountable and we can actually prevent wage theft and harassment in the first place. The onus shouldn't be on workers to hold these employers accountable. We already have these laws. I wish the government and other agencies work together to better implement these laws." In a statement to SBS, a spokesperson for the Fair Work Ombudsman says it proactively checks employers are doing the right thing, and prioritises education and assistance for vulnerable young workers.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Lovestruck Mark Latham proposed marriage to ex-lover
Lovestruck Mark Latham proposed marriage to his ex-lover Nathalie May Matthews before she accused him of degrading sexual acts and alleged a pattern of abusive behaviour. Despite Mr Latham describing the relationship as 'a situationship', friends of the former couple have revealed the relationship was serious. In fact, they insist that the former Labor leader proposed to the businesswoman and Liberal Party supporter on May 23, 2024 at the acclaimed Italian restaurant Otto in Sydney. But Ms Matthews has now alleged that Mr Latham asked her to call him 'master' and engaged in degrading sexual acts, allegations detailed in a shocking apprehended violence application. She has alleged that he defecated on her before sex, took intimate images and threw a plate at her – allegations Mr Latham strongly denies. does not suggest the claims are true, only that they have been made in an application to the NSW Local Court in pursuit of an AVO. Mr Latham separated from his second wife Janine Lacy, a local magistrate, and the mother of his children, in September, 2022 after over twenty years of marriage. He divorced his first wife Gabrielle Gwyther in 1999. Mark Latham denies 'degrading' sex acts' Mr Latham, 64, who is a New South Wales Legislative Council member, has issued an emphatic denial about the claims, telling The Australian newspaper – that first broke the story – that the allegations were untrue. 'The claims you've listed there are absolute rubbish,' Mr Latham said. 'Comical in fact. 'Nothing has been served on me nor has anyone contacted me. 'I haven't had anything to do with her (Ms Matthews) since 27 May, so nearly seven weeks ago. I ended the 'situationship' that night for very good reason.' In late 2023, it was a different story with Mr Latham gushing over his new girlfriend on social media. 'So much looking forward to The Everest this Saturday at Royal Randwick,' Mr Latham's post read. 'A beautiful trophy designed by the great Nic Cerrone, made even more spectacular by being photographed with @nathaliemaymatthews.' In another post, the loved-up couple cuddled at the Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, in Sydney's west. 'Great day of racing at Rosehill with the Town Crier and the very beautiful Nathalie Matthews,' the caption on the post read, followed by an emoji with heart eyes. NSW police contact NSW police sources say officers who initially interviewed Ms Matthews did not believe there was sufficient evidence to proceed with charges or an apprehended violence order on the information they were given. They remain open to taking a further, more comprehensive statement. They again spoke to her as recently as Monday and will continue to seek a comprehensive statement. 'Degrading' sexual acts alleged Ms Matthews, 37, is seeking an order preventing Mr Latham from going within 100m of her, alleging an 'ongoing, reasonable fear of harassment, intimidation, and potential harm'. 'Throughout our relationship, the defendant engaged in a sustained pattern of emotional, physical, sexual, psychological, and financial abuse, including defecating on me before sex and refusing to let me wash,'' the application states. 'Forcing degrading sexual acts, pressuring me to engage in sexual acts with others, demanding I call him 'master,' telling me I was his property, and repeatedly telling me that my only value to him was for sex to demean and control me.' does not suggest the claims are true, only that they have been made in an application to the NSW Local Court in pursuit of an AVO. In the application, she stated that on May 27, 2025, Mr Latham arrived at her home at some time in the evening after sending her 'abusive and coercive text messages, pressuring and insulting me for not being home with him'. After she returned home later that evening, she alleged he was verbally aggressive and intimidating before leaving. 'Monster' texts revealed Shortly after, she alleged he sent further threatening and coercive messages, falsely accusing her of aggression, calling her a 'monster,' and stating he had gone to his GP to create a record claiming distress and that he had approached Parliamentary Security – given he is currently a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council. In June, she stated she was in the Middle East for several weeks. Ms Matthews owns an e-commerce global logistics firm based in Dubai, Perth and Sydney. But upon her return, the application stated she had been in 'a constant state of fear and hypervigilance due to the defendant's pattern of harassment and intimidation following previous separations'. She also alleged instances of physical violence in the application including 'pushing me against walls, forcing me out the door, throwing a plate at me during an argument, and driving at me with his vehicle, hitting me with the side mirror and causing a bruise'. The application also cites allegations of psychological abuse, including 'constant put-downs comparing me unfavourably to other women, acting as if he would harm himself to manipulate me, monitoring my devices without consent, and systematically undermining my confidence to control and isolate me'. There are also claims of financial abuse, including borrowing $20,000 on four occasions without prompt repayment, forcing her to pay for international holidays under duress, coercing her into expensive purchases, and pressuring her regarding her father's will. 'Intimate videos' 'The defendant has held intimate photos and videos of me, and I have been afraid he would expose them to shame and control me if I attempted to leave or resist his demands,'' the application stated. 'The defendant has repeatedly manipulated and intimidated me into resuming the relationship following separations, creating a cycle of fear and control. Previous breakups in May 2024, June 2024, September 2024, January 2025, and June 2025 were followed by similar intimidation and re-engagement. '(Mr Latham engaged in) physical violence, including pushing me against walls, forcing me out the door, throwing a plate at me during an argument, and driving at me with his vehicle, hitting me with the side mirror and causing a bruise,' the court document claims. The matter will be mentioned at Downing Centre Local Court on July 30. 'Vile' homophobic tweets Last year the Federal Court found Mr Latham defamed independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich after claiming in a homophobic social media post that Mr Greenwich was not a fit and proper person to be a member of the NSW parliament because he engaged in 'disgusting' sexual activities. He was ordered to pay $140,000 to Mr Greenwich. During the trial, Mr Greenwich's barrister Matt Collins KC said Mr Latham's statements were 'pregnant with innuendo'. 'It is plainly not a tweet about homosexual sex. It's a tweet about a particular and unhygienic sex act,' Dr Collins said. 'People understood Mr Latham to be saying exactly what he said in the tweet: that Mr Greenwich engages in a particularly disgusting and hygienic sexual act.' Last month Mr Latham used parliamentary privilege to reveal confidential information from a psychologist's report prepared for the tribunal as to the case brought by Mr Greenwich. In response, Mr Greenwich told parliament that Mr Latham 'thinks and talks far too much about my sex life'.
