{
  "id": 3807889,
  "title": "14yo driver on meth when he caused near-fatal crash, court hears",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/14yo-driver-on-meth-when-he-caused-near-fatal-crash-court-hears",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-27T20:01:15.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-28/14yo-driver-on-meth-when-he-caused-near-fatal-crash/107086466"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A 14-year-old boy caused a devastating crash that nearly claimed lives of several motorists and resulted in a miscarriage, according to court testimony. Police claim he tested positive for methamphetamine during the incident and went on to cause another crash following his release from the hospital. The magistrate denied bail and postponed the case until November, citing the strength of the evidence against the boy and the likelihood of a lengthy prison sentence. The incident occurred in April when the boy, now 15, was driving a Mitsubishi Lancer while his girlfriend sat on his lap and another juvenile occupied the front passenger seat. Another juvenile was present in the vehicle's center console. Witnesses reported the Lancer was out of control before colliding with another vehicle. One occupant of the other vehicle suffered serious injuries and reportedly lost an unborn child. The Lancer then veered onto the opposite side of the road and collided head-on with a Volkswagen Polo carrying a couple and their two-year-old child, resulting in injuries that could have been fatal without medical intervention. The boy tested positive for methamphetamine at the scene and was taken to the hospital due to the severity of the crash. Despite being unable to locate the boy following his discharge, police issued an arrest warrant and subsequently arrested him on August 24. The prosecution emphasized the boy's history of evading police and engaging in further offenses after the initial crash. His defense lawyer argued that the boy had been living with his mother and stepfather before moving in with his father following the death of their grandfather. The boy's lawyer suggested he could benefit from a conditional bail program, including rehabilitation for his methamphetamine use, and proposed he be monitored via an electronic device. However, the magistrate cited the boy's failure to return police calls and his subsequent reoffending as reasons to refuse bail, deeming him an unacceptable risk to the community. The case was remanded in custody, with the next hearing scheduled for a committal mention on November 11.",
  "summary": "A boy was driving \"out of control\" with his girlfriend in his lap before he caused a crash that killed an unborn child, a court has heard.",
  "key_points": [
    "14-year-old boy caused near-fatal crash while on meth.",
    "Crash resulted in miscarriage and serious injuries.",
    "Boy arrested on August 24, bail denied until November."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}