News Service from House Harris

QLD:Young man sought in nation-wide manhunt found hiding at home

GOLD COAST, Dec 1 AAP - A young driver charged over a crash that killed an elderly man and injured his wife has been found hiding at home, ending three days on the run.

Red-faced police launched a national hunt for Madison Jo Randell, 18, after he escaped from custody following medical treatment at a Gold Coast hospital last week.

Randell and a 19-year-old associate were found hiding in an underground section of Randell's home at Ashmore on the Gold Coast on Monday, police said.

Officers expect to lay additional charges, including escaping from police custody and assaulting police.

Prior to his escape, Randell was already facing 31 charges, including dangerous driving causing death, unlicensed driving, and other offences unrelated to the crash.

Police believe Randell was involved in two violent robberies on Saturday night, while he was on the run. He could also face charges in relation to those incidents.

The 19-year-old man is assisting police with their inquiries.

Randell was arrested last month after a crash at Miami that killed Mario Martorano, 82, and critically injured his 72-year-old wife.

Police allege Randell was at the wheel of an unregistered Subaru WRX that slammed into the elderly couple's panel van.

Enid Martorano remains in a stable condition at the Gold Coast Hospital.

Police were embarrassed when Randell escaped from custody after having a cast put on his injured wrist at the same hospital on Thursday.

Internal investigators are deciding whether two police officers assigned to guard him erred in failing to handcuff him.

Randell is expected to face Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday.