A man will appear in court today charged after four children were killed and three others were injured following a crash in Sydney’s north-west yesterday.
Just before 8pm (Saturday 1 February 2020), emergency services were called to Bettington Road, Oatlands, following reports multiple pedestrians had been struck by a vehicle.
Police have been told the children were on the footpath when a Mitsubishi Triton utility allegedly mounted the kerb and struck the children.
Four children – three girls, aged 8, 11, and 12, and a 13-year-old boy – died at the scene.
An 11-year-old boy and two girls, aged 10 and 13, were treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. The boy remains in a serious but stable condition while the girls are stable.
Officers from The Hills Police Area Command established a crime scene, which has been examined by specialist police from the Metropolitan Crash Investigation Unit.
The driver, a 29-year-old man, and a 24-year-old male passenger were uninjured. The driver was subjected to a roadside breath test and returned a positive result.
He was arrested and taken to Castle Hill Police Station where he was subjected to a breath analysis which allegedly returned a reading of 0.150. He was also taken to hospital to undergo mandatory testing.
The driver has now been charged with 20 offences,
• four counts of manslaughter,
• four counts of dangerous driving occasioning death – drive under influence,
• four counts of dangerous driving occasioning death – drive manner dangerous,
• dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm – drive under the influence
• dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm – drive manner dangerous
• two counts of cause bodily harm by misconduct, in charge of motor vehicle,
• negligent driving (occasioning death),
• negligent driving (occasioning grievous bodily harm),
• drive with high range PCA,
• proceed through red traffic light (not toll booth)
He has been refused bail to appear at Parramatta Bail Court today (Sunday 2 February 2020).
