Alleged hit-run driver serves up foul-mouthed outburst in first court appearance

Tayler Hazell, 31, from Victoria, made this comment when he faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Saturday.

During an outburst, Hazell, who had a bruise on his left cheek and a bandage on his elbow, opposed a police recommendation for him to be sent to a mental health hospital for evaluation.

"They are playing f---ing games here, mate," he said to Magistrate Alexandra Burt.

"Put me back in prison and then I'll go from there ... I just want to go to the prison and have a sleep."

Legal Aid duty lawyer Ketinia McGowan said there would be no application for bail due to the police recommendation.

Hazell is accused of stealing a car in Sutton, with an eight-year-old girl inside, driving it across the ACT border and then hitting two students crossing the road to get to class at St Edmund's College in Griffith on Friday morning.

As of Saturday the boys, aged 14 and 15, were still being treated for serious injuries at Canberra Hospital.

In an update to families, school principal Tim Cleary said the students were in the hospital's intensive care unit "recovering from multiple traumatic injuries".

"Both are stable and remain surrounded by their loving families," he said.

"Please continue to keep our boys in your prayers as they begin their journey through recovery."

Tradies at a nearby construction site apprehended Hazell as he allegedly attempted to flee the Manuka area around 9.20am on Friday.

Earlier that morning, a car had been allegedly stolen from a childcare centre in Sutton with an eight-year-old girl inside. She is said to have been released by the alleged thief a short distance from the centre unharmed but distressed.

After hitting the boys, Hazell allegedly continued to drive the car for more than a kilometre before crashing in Manuka.

Earlier, he is said to have evaded a police attempt to stop the green Holden Commodore station wagon with special road spikes.

Hazell, from Warrenheip in Victoria, was subject to interstate parole and bail conditions at the time.

He is set to be charged with a number of offences, including unlicenced driving, driving a motor vehicle without consent, dangerous driving and two counts of negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm.

These charges were not read out to him in the ACT Magistrates Court on Saturday.

The magistrate ordered Hazell to be sent to Canberra Hospital to determine if he needed immediate treatment or care due to mental impairment.

He will return to court at a later date.

In a statement, ACT Policing stated it acknowledges that the collision outside St Edmund's College would have been a confronting scene for witnesses.

We encourage anyone who witnessed that incident to seek professional support, it said.

Investigators have urged anyone who may have footage of the vehicle or who witnessed the incident yesterday morning to come forward.

Police believe the vehicle travelled from Sutton, NSW, possibly through Queanbeyan and into the ACT between 7:40am and 9:10am on Friday.

In a Facebook post on Friday, ACT Education Minister Yvette Berry said her "heart is with the two boys their family, friends and the St Edmund's College Canberra community tonight".

"I know Canberra is thinking of everyone who has been impacted directly and are grateful beyond words to those who responded to the tragic incident this morning," she said.

"Strong hugs to everybody today and for the days to come."

Anyone with information or footage should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website. Please quote 8007241. Information can be provided anonymously.