Despicable moment teenage e-bike rider crashes into a koala and rides away: ‘Bring back national service’
Shocking footage captured the moment an e-bike rider crashed into a koala that was crossing the road before looking back without stopping.
Two teenage riders were travelling along Nursery Road at Holland Park in Brisbane’s south-east on Saturday.
Dashcam footage from a motorist, travelling behind the pair, showed the lead cyclist collide with the marsupial while trying to overtake the vehicle in front.
The pair could then be seen looking back at the animal before continuing on their way, seemingly unfazed.
The impact toppled the koala before it made its way to safety on the side of the road.
Wildlife rescue charity Koala Rescue Brisbane South shared the footage on its Facebook page.
‘They were traveling so fast that one couldn’t swerve in time to miss a koala that was on the road,’ it wrote.
They said another driver travelling in the opposite direction stopped and notified them of the incident.
Sickening footage captured the moment an e-bike rider crashing into a koala that was crossing the road before looking back without stopping
When the rescuers arrived, they found two koalas, Valli and Barnsey, but weren’t sure which one was hit.
Both were taken to RSPCA Wildlife Hospital in Wacol and later released uninjured the following day.
‘Valli was freed into mature trees inside the grounds of Mt Thompson Crematorium, while Barnsey was released into bushland off Coolibah Street in Mt Gravatt East,’ the charity said.
Koala Rescue Brisbane South founder John Knights urged motorists to be more alert on the road, especially since koala mating season is underway, resulting in more males on the move.
‘Quite often, I’ll be picking up an animal somewhere and while I’m doing it, I’ll see people speeding by,’ he told Yahoo.
‘Speed limits only seem to apply until 10pm, then you can do what you like.’
Mr Knights said the behaviour didn’t surprise him, claiming Australian teenagers were ‘not taught respect’.
‘There’s a good case for bringing back national service,’ he said.
Two riders were travelling along Nursery Road at Holland Park in Brisbane’s south-east when the lead cyclist collided with the marsupial while trying to overtake the vehicle in front
‘Not necessarily to go to war, but to teach them how to look after themselves, teach them how to respect people, and teach them a few manners.
‘And put a bit of fear into them when they get it wrong.’
Many Aussies were shocked by the riders.
‘That was so hard to watch. I can’t begin to understand why they or anyone else wouldn’t stop,’ one said.
‘He knew what he did and didn’t care,’ a second said.
‘It’s a sad world we live in now as people are so entitled and don’t care about anyone else other than themselves or anything else,’ a third said.
Daily Mail has contacted RSPCA Queensland and Koala Rescue Brisbane South for comment.
