New South Wales Police say a 36-year-old man took a Mazda and crashed into several vehicles in the city centre. A woman pedestrian was hospitalised with a head injury and is in stable condition.
A South Australian man was arrested after an alleged carjacking and a series of collisions in central Sydney. New South Wales Police said a Mazda was taken on the evening of October 8 before colliding with a rideshare vehicle, a police car and a pedestrian. The 36-year-old was detained near the Queen Victoria Building and taken to hospital under police guard.
Police allege the man approached a parked Mazda at the intersection of King and Pitt streets and forced its driver, a woman in her 20s, out of the car. He then drove along George Street. Police are reviewing reports of erratic behaviour before the alleged theft and investigating whether he may have been affected by drugs. Those circumstances remain under investigation.
The Mazda collided with a rideshare vehicle at George and Market streets. Its driver and a female passenger, also in her 20s, were not injured. The car then hit a marked police vehicle parked near the light rail tracks, with two officers inside. They were unharmed and arrested the driver.
A bollard was dislodged in the crash and struck a passerby, a woman in her 50s. She suffered a head injury and was taken to hospital in stable condition. Police and paramedics treated the driver before he was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital for mandatory testing. He remained there under guard at the time of publication.
Sydney City Police Area Commander Adam Solah described a chaotic scene and noted the area around the Queen Victoria Building was crowded. He praised bystanders who helped people before emergency services arrived. The woman allegedly forced from the Mazda is assisting investigators.
The man is expected to face a carjacking charge after leaving hospital. Additional driving offences may follow, depending on alcohol and drug test results. The investigation is continuing. Light rail services had returned to normal by Friday morning.