NSW Police arrested a Queensland man, in Penrith this morning, and will allege he was involved in 8 hit-and-run incidents around Sydney yesterday (19th July 2020). Three of the incidents resulted in cyclists sustaining injuries. Two of the cyclists were from Lane Cove but were not cycling together.
After Police arrested the 35-year-old driver he was taken to Nepean Hospital for mandatory blood and urine testing. He remains in hospital undergoing a mental health assessment.
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. A 42-year-old male Lane Cove cyclist suffered abrasions to his hip and elbow. The cyclist is at home and has numerous lacerations.
About five minutes later – and 2km south of the first collision – the same SUV hit another cyclist; this time a 55-year-old Lane Cove man suffered five fractured ribs and a fractured collarbone; He was operated on last night at Royal North Shore hospital and has been released today.
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.
Questions have been raised as to why the driver continued driving after his licence had been suspended. Investigations are continuing.
This article was originally posted as Police Searching for a SUV Driver Involved in 8 Hit and Runs – One Incident in Lane Cove and has been updated.
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