The white van collided into the parked hatchback belonging to Fourth Avenue resident Hailey Renault about 1.54am Sunday, flattening the back of the car up to the rear passenger seats. 

There was nobody in the vehicle.   

It is alleged the man had a suspended licence and drove an unregistered vehicle. 

Mount Isa Police Sergeant Brendan Poustie said the collision released the white van’s airbags before it drove away. 

Police later went to a Parkside address and spoke to the man, and brought him to the police station for a breath test. 

Police charged the man with driving with a suspended licence, drink-driving, using an unregistered vehicle and failing to remain at the crash site, Sergeant Poustie said. 

The accused will appear in the Mount Isa Magistrates Court on January 5. 

Ms Renault believed passengers could have been killed or badly injured judging by how badly the back of the car was flattened. 

The crash could have been much worse. 

“I’m just glad the guy driving the other car wasn’t hurt,” Ms Renault said. 

“I’m glad that was all the damage that was done.” 

She returned home after a late night of socialising to find police, a fire truck, and a line of wreckage, and her car facing the opposite direction from where she parked it. 

In the days after the crash Ms Renault noticed about three people staring at her car while driving past. 

“Guys, safety first,” she cautioned. 

She said the car was insured but her wish list to her parents was money for an upgrade.