Police have charged a man following a serious traffic incident in Eli Waters yesterday, June 15.

Just before 4.30am on Saturday, police were called to reports a man operating a front-end loader was seen driving dangerously on Pialba Burrum Heads Road.

It is alleged the man had stolen the vehicle from a worksite on the corner of Pialba Burrum Heads Road and Hervey Bay Maryborough Road around 4am, and caused a large amount of destruction to infrastructure, including crashing into traffic lights, streetlights and signage.

The vehicle was tracked for a period of time before it crashed outside an address on Jeppeson Road.

The driver, a 20-year-old Toogoom man, fled the scene on foot and was taken into custody on Periwinkle Crescent a short time later.

He has been charged with one count each of unlawful use of motor vehicles aircraft or vessels – use in the night damaged or threatened to damage property, dangerous operation of a vehicle, evasion offence at night damages property, obstruct police officer, serious assault police officer and wilful damage of police property.

The man is due to appear in Hervey Bay Magistrates Court today, June 16.

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