Melbourne 'Fall Guy' Wannabe's Court Appearance Adjourned After Alleged Ute Rampage
Daniel Keas, a 48-year-old man who claimed his alleged dangerous driving was a stunt, has yet to face court two days after his arrest over a wild rampage in a ute across Melbourne's inner suburbs. Keas was due to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Thursday, but the matter was adjourned without explanation, with his next hearing scheduled for March 31.
Alleged Rampage Details and Police Pursuit
Police allege that on Tuesday night, Keas was behind the wheel of a Ford Ranger that drove on the wrong side of the road, hitting approximately ten cars before being stopped. The alleged incident began in Fitzroy and wound through Collingwood and Abbotsford before ending in Richmond. Officers patrolling the area reportedly saw the ute overtake them on Highett Street in Richmond around 6:50 pm, initiating a short pursuit that ended with a crash on York Street.
Videos shared on social media show the ute tearing down Church Street with sparks flying from its front right wheel, which appeared stuck at almost 90 degrees. Another video captured the ute crashed on nearby York Street, where police allege Keas struck four cars, including one forced up onto the car behind it. The rampage left a trail of carnage, with cars smashed on busy Punt Road and multiple collisions on Victoria Parade.
Keas's Bizarre Claims and Public Reaction
In bizarre scenes, Keas told police he had forgotten to take his medications and claimed his actions had a reasonable explanation. 'It's alright man. It's for a stunt, literally,' he said in a video of police hauling him away in handcuffs. Angry bystanders heckled him as he was led into a divisional van, with one man retorting, 'It's not a stunt man. It's not funny,' referencing Lee Majors, the actor who played history's most famous fake stuntman in the 1980s series 'The Fall Guy'. Keas allegedly responded, 'But I'm a stunt driver. That's what I do.'
However, in reality, Keas is a carpenter by trade and appears to have no real experience as a stuntman. Officers allegedly found drugs both in his blood and inside the vehicle.
Injuries and Charges
One pedestrian was injured while attempting to get out of the way of the alleged rampage, and more than ten people were caught up in the carnage, according to police. Witnesses expressed shock, with Ayyan Arsal telling 9News, 'I just stepped out ... and police officers came out and just ran after him.' Another witness said police were forced to use a stun gun on Keas to bring him down.
Keas, from Oakleigh, has been charged with:
- Dangerous driving
- Reckless conduct endangering serious injury
- Criminal damage
- Possessing a drug of dependence
- Drug driving
- Other traffic offences
Bystanders were amazed no one was seriously hurt in the series of accidents, which left significant damage across Richmond. The alleged antics went viral after appearing on social media, drawing widespread attention to the incident.
