An alleged carjacker brought Brisbane to a complete standstill on Tuesday afternoon after crashing a stolen vehicle on the iconic Story Bridge, forcing the closure of all lanes and triggering extensive delays throughout the city's road network.
Incident Details and Arrest
The chaotic event began around 3pm when a red sedan was carjacked at Kangaroo Point. However, the offender's escape was short-lived, as the stolen car collided with another vehicle on the Story Bridge shortly thereafter.
During the collision, the stolen vehicle rolled onto its side, prompting a swift response from emergency services. Police arrived at the scene within minutes, where the alleged carjacker attempted to flee but was quickly apprehended.
The suspect was arrested and taken to a local hospital under police guard, suffering only minor injuries. A passenger inside the stolen car also received treatment for minor injuries at the scene, but no serious harm was reported.
Major Traffic Disruption
The crash resulted in the immediate closure of all lanes on the Story Bridge, a critical artery for Brisbane's transport system. This closure caused significant traffic congestion, effectively putting the city's roads in a chokehold during the busy peak hour period.
TransLink, the public transport authority, reported delays of at least 30 minutes for bus services that rely on the bridge and surrounding roads. The lanes did not reopen until after 4pm, prolonging the disruption for commuters and residents alike.
Impact on City Operations
The incident highlighted the vulnerability of Brisbane's infrastructure to such events, with the city brought to a virtual standstill as emergency crews worked to clear the scene. The closure not only affected private vehicles but also disrupted public transport schedules, causing ripple effects across the metropolitan area.
Authorities have emphasized the importance of road safety and swift police action in mitigating such incidents, though the full investigation into the carjacking and crash is ongoing.
