Pyramid Video and Spice: Moment an allegedly drunk driver crashes into Sydney’s Homebush West store and pins a woman against the wall
Shocking footage has emerged of the moment an alleged drunk driver drove a van through a convenience store and pinned a woman against the wall for half an hour.
CCTV from inside Pyramid Video and Spice on Hornsey Road in Homebush West, in Sydney’s inner west, shows the Volkswagen Caddy hitting a 27-year-old pedestrian before launching her into the store and pinning her between the car and a wall.
Emergency services tried to free her from the wreckage for around 30 minutes before she was taken to Westmead Hospital in a critical condition with injuries to her legs.
The driver reportedly fled to his home just hundreds of yards away, where he was arrested and taken to the Auburn Police Station.
He is said to have given a breath test of 0.133, almost three times the legal limit, and has been charged with a series of offences.
CCTV from inside Pyramid Video and Spice on Hornsey Road in Homebush West, in Sydney’s inner west, shows the Volkswagen Caddy hitting a 27-year-old pedestrian before launching her into the store and becoming trapped between the car and a wall
A female employee was also struck by the vehicle and pinned against a wall and the passenger side of the van.
A witness said she heard a woman’s guttural noise coming from the store shortly after the accident.
Others came to her aid in an attempt to free her from the van, with two good Samaritans attempting to push the van to create space for her to escape.
Suntharalingam Sellathurai, owner of the store for 24 years, had closed the store only three hours before the crash only to return to find it completely destroyed.
“I don’t know what to do and how long it will take to clean up… (It’s) very, very difficult at the moment, I couldn’t sleep last night,” he told Nine News.
The 52-year-old driver is said to have given an alcohol breath test of 0.133, almost three times the legal limit (photo, emergency services on site)
Police will allege in court that the van driver fled after hitting the woman and failed to come to her aid.
He was charged with dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm, drink driving, dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm, failing to stop and render assistance after a collision causing serious bodily harm and negligent driving causing serious bodily harm.
He was released on bail at Parramatta Local Court on Tuesday afternoon and ordered not to drive or drink alcohol and must report to police daily.
A passenger in the van was also arrested by police and taken to hospital for precautionary checks, but was later released.