A teenage driver has been charged and police have launched a critical incident following a serious crash that left 11 people injured, one critically, at Lake Macquarie overnight.
Just before 1.15am (Saturday 26 September 2020), officers from Lake Macquarie Police District were patrolling when they saw a Holden Statesman leave a service station on Main Road, Edgeworth.
Due to the manner of driving, police conducted a U-turn to follow the vehicle.
The Holden continued to travel on Main Road and allegedly collided with a Toyota HiAce van, being operated as a taxi, at the intersection of Garth Street.
Paramedics treated 11 people for various injuries who were all taken to John Hunter Hospital.
The taxi driver, a 46-year-old man, and two female passengers, aged 24 and 42, suffered serious injuries.
The younger woman remains in a critical condition and the driver in a serious but stable condition.
Three further taxi passengers – men, aged 28, 35, and 47 – suffered minor injuries.
Three passengers in the Holden – two 14-year-old girls and a 17-year-old boy – suffered serious injuries. The Holden driver and a fourth passenger, both aged 17, suffered minor injuries.
The Holden driver was arrested and subjected to a roadside breath test, allegedly returning a positive result.
He was taken to hospital, under police guard, where he underwent mandatory testing.
The teen has since been released and taken to Toronto Police Station, where he was charged with 15 offences, including:
- dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm- drive manner dangerous (x3)
- cause bodily harm by misconduct, in charge of motor vehicle (x8)
- negligent driving (occasions grievous bodily harm)
- drive motor vehicle during disqualification period
- negligent driving, and
- not stop before lights at red light.
He was refused bail to appear at a children’s court tomorrow (Sunday 27 September 2020).
A critical incident team will now investigate all circumstances surrounding the crash.
That investigation will be subject to independent review.
