“A marked police vehicle lost control during the incident and struck a power pole, resulting in head and spinal injuries to the male officer driving, and back injuries to the female passenger,” police said in a statement.
Both officers were treated at the scene before being taken to Townsville University Hospital.
Police deployed road spikes in nearby Condon, with the 4WD swerving around the device and crashing into a tree.
Six of the alleged occupants – three boys aged 14, 16 and 17, along with three girls 12, 13 and 15 – were arrested at the scene and taken to hospital with minor injuries for observation. The seventh remains at large after fleeing the scene.
Labor’s Thuringowa MP, Aaron Harper, said despite changes to bail laws made by the Palaszczuk government last year, “more must be done”.
“After the recent tragedy, senseless idiots continue to place lives at risk,” he wrote on Facebook, tagging both Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.
“Sentencing must meet community expectations,” he said. “Get them off our streets.”
Anyone who saw or may have footage of the vehicle being driven dangerously or was forced to take evasive action is urged to contact police.
