News update: Driver arrested by police this morning at a Penrith Petrol Station – police holding press conference at 12.30 today.
If you were driving along Epping Road Lane Cove at around 11.15 am yesterday and saw an Equinox SUV pull up beside a driver and deliberately swerved into their lane and hit the car before leaving the scene you might be able to help police with their investigations into a driver who was involved in up to eight crashes in a three-hour period yesterday (Sunday 19th July 2020).
The police have identified the driver was driving a rented grey Holden Equinox SUV.
It all started at 8.20 am yesterday after Highway Patrol stopped a grey Holden Equinox on the M1 at Bar Point and the driver was issued a traffic infringement notice for speeding more than 45km/h. The driver, a 35-year-old man from Queensland, had his licence suspended on the spot.
Despite the suspension, less than an hour later at 9:10 am, the same vehicle was involved in a collision with a cyclist on the Pacific Highway at Lindfield. The 48-year-old male cyclist suffered abrasions to his hip and elbow.
About five minutes later – and 2km south of the first collision – the same SUV hit another cyclist; this time a 55-year-old man suffered five fractured ribs and a fractured collarbone; he remains in Royal North Shore Hospital.
Both times the driver allegedly left the scene without rendering assistance or providing details.
Shortly after 9.35 am, the same vehicle was driving in the Eastern Distributor Tunnel southbound at Woolloomooloo, when a 2012-model Mercedes C220 was hit from behind by an SUV matching the description. The sedan spun out, blocking all three lanes and the SUV did not stop.
The driver, a 39-year-old man, was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital to be checked as a precaution. He sustained bruising and swelling in the incident.
Only minutes later, a Land Rover Sport, being driven by a 52-year-old man, was hit by an SUV as the vehicle were travelling east along Alison Road at Kensington. The SUV failed to stop.
At 9.38 am, the 36-year-old man driving a WRX witnessed the Kensington crash and was noting the SUV’s number plate when – police allege – the SUV driver deliberately reversed towards him, causing another collision with a Mitsubishi Eclipse. The SUV then drove from the scene without exchanging details.
At 10 am, a 36-year-old man was cycling west along Perry Street at Matraville when he was hit from behind by the SUV, knocking him off his bike. He sustained cuts to his left elbow and back. The SUV did not stop.
At 10.30 am, a 39-year-old woman was driving her Forester along Bridge Road at Glebe, when she was struck by an SUV travelling in the same direction. The SUV driver did not stop.
The last linked incident was the Lane Cove incident described above when a 59-year-old woman was driving her Subaru Outback north along Epping Road. She has told police an Equinox SUV drove beside her and deliberately swerved into her lane and hit her before leaving the scene.
A description of the wanted vehicle was circulated to police yesterday; however, neither the SUV or the driver have been found.
The vehicle is described as being a 2018-model grey Holden Equinox with Queensland registration, 729ZAB
Police urge anyone with information about the whereabouts of the vehicle or the driver to call Crime Stopper on 1800 333 000.
If the vehicle is seen, do not approach and called Triple Zero (000) immediately.
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