Queensland man arrested after eight alleged hit-and-runs in Sydney
A Queensland man has been arrested after eight alleged hit-and-run incidents across Sydney on Sunday that left three cyclists with multiple injuries.
The 35-year-old driver remains in hospital and will undergo a mental health assessment.
At 8.20am on Sunday, police stopped a rented grey Holden Equinox with Queensland number plates on the M1 at Bar Point along the Central Coast, and issued the driver with a traffic infringement notice for speeding more than 45 kilometres per hour over the limit. The driver had his licence suspended on the spot.
Police arrested the driver of the grey Holden Equinox car at a petrol station in Sydney's west on Monday morning. Credit:TNV
Less than an hour later, the Equinox SUV allegedly collided 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, the car allegedly hit a second cyclist who suffered five fractured ribs and a fractured collarbone. The 35-year-old cyclist remains in Royal North Shore Hospital.
The driver allegedly left the scene after both incidents without offering assistance or providing details.
Shortly after 9.35am, the car was driving along the Eastern Distributor tunnel southbound at Woolloomooloo when it allegedly hit a Mercedes from behind, which spun out and blocked three lanes. The driver, a 39-year-old man, sustained bruising and swelling and was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital to be checked as a precaution.
Minutes later, another car was allegedly hit by the SUV on Alison Road at Kensington.
The SUV then allegedly reversed into the car of a 36-year-old man who witnessed the previous incident and was noting the car's number plate.
At 10am, the SUV allegedly hit a 36-year-old man who was cycling west along Perry Street at Matraville. The cyclist was knocked off his bike and sustained cuts to his left elbow and back.
About 30 minutes later, the SUV allegedly hit a fourth car on Bridge Road at Glebe.
At 11.15 am, a 59-year-old woman was driving along Epping Road, Lane Cove when the SUV allegedly drove beside her, swerved into her lane and hit her.
Following a public appeal, police located the Equinox SUV at a petrol station on Castlereagh Road, Penrith on Monday morning. They arrested the driver and he was taken to Nepean Hospital for mandatory blood and urine testing.
“From the interaction they [police] had with him, they had some concerns in regards to his mental health, and currently he is undergoing a mental health assessment,” NSW Police North Shore Police Area Commander Superintendent Jenny Scholz said.
The man’s movements prior to the incidents will form part of the investigation.
While Superintendent Scholz said she could not comment on the exact interaction between police and the man during the suspension of his licence on Sunday, she said generally, if police had any concerns a driver would re-offend they would "take action".
"Once you receive a suspension of your drivers' licence, you are not permitted to drive," she said.
Investigations into the incident continue.