Essendon President Detains Driver After Gold Coast Crash

On Friday night, a white Ford Ranger utility vehicle collided with a bus stop and a light pole on Surf Parade near Charles Avenue in Broadbeach, Gold Coast. The incident occurred at approximately 7:30 PM.

Essendon Football Club president Andrew Welsh, who was dining nearby, went to the scene and helped detain the driver.

Welsh and another bystander detained the male driver, who was attempting to leave the scene, until police arrived. Police subsequently took the man into custody. Paramedics provided medical treatment at the scene.

According to a witness, no bystanders were struck by the vehicle during the incident.

Background on Andrew Welsh

Andrew Welsh played 162 games for the Essendon Football Club between 2002 and 2011. He joined the club's board in 2022 and became president in September 2023.

The incident occurred hours before Essendon's scheduled AFL match against the Gold Coast Suns.