Female allegedly stabbed for ‘changing radio station’ in horror Engadine rampage

Police allege a 58-year-old man used a box cutter knife to stab his female partner multiple times before turning the weapon on bystanders and a police officer in a shocking domestic violence attack.

A shocking suspected domestic violence attack at a busy intersection of the Princes Hwy has seen a woman, witnesses and police allegedly stabbed by a crazed man, who claimed his partner “changed the radio station on him” in their car.

Witnesses told how they saw a car swerving in and out of traffic, before T-boning an unsuspecting vehicle at the intersection of the busy highway and Old Bush Rd at Engadine, south of Sydney.

Police allege the 58-year-old driver then used a box cutter knife to stab his female partner a number of times, including in the neck and breast, before slashing at bystanders and a NSW Police officer.

Cronulla Sharks chairman Steve Mace was one of the first witnesses on the scene and told The Daily Telegraph how he stared down the knife-wielding man, after stopping when he came across the carnage of a multiple-vehicle car crash while on his way to his son’s junior football game about 9am on Sunday.

The alleged attacker was hospitalised after the crash.

“I was taking my little fella innocently to his knockout elimination final and a car accident happened in front of us,” Mr Mace said.

“I said to Cooper ‘you just wait in the car’. I wanted to make sure these people were alright. It looked like their airbags had gone off.

“I heard the guy screaming in the car and then I heard his partner screaming even louder. I tried to open the door and finally jammed it open.”

Mr Mace also received a minor gash as he and another bystander tried to come to the aid of the victim, with that man also allegedly stabbed by the perpetrator.

“He copped a gash from (his shoulder) down to his belly button,” Mr Mace said.

“We finally got her out. We laid her down and then the (alleged attacker) has got out. He has come around… we got her back in the car to try and protect her.

“There was a little torch which was all I could grab. Then it was like a stand-off which felt like (it went for) an hour.”

Police pictured at a crime scene on the Princes Highway in Engadine where there was a car crash and stabbing incident. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Mr Mace told how at one point the alleged attacker moved towards his son.

“Police got there… he then tried to turn around and get my fella,” he said.

“The police tasered him. Somehow he raced up the hill…that’s when I found out a police officer was stabbed…there was a lot of blood everywhere.”

NSW Ambulance paramedics rushed to the scene, taking the female partner, police officer, the bystander who helped Mr Mace and the alleged attacker, to St George and Liverpool Hospitals.

The two occupants of the second vehicle involved in the initial crash were also assessed and treated at the scene.

Blood can be seen inside this white car at a crime scene on the Princes Highway in Engadine where there was a car crash and stabbing incident. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Sutherland Police Superintendent Don Faulds said at its root, the incident was “definitely domestic related” but that there was no history of violence between the man and woman.

He said the officer who had arrested the alleged attacker had suffered a “large laceration” to their wrist, and also commended the brave members of the public who assisted to subdue the man and protect the woman.

“(It was) amazing work, they’ve turned up thinking it was just a normal motor vehicle accident … and they were faced with a box cutter,” he said.

“Quite frightening, but very, very brave of those people.”

Another witness to the terrifying attack, Wayne, told how he ran over to hold the man back as the arrest was taking place.

“You don’t want to see stuff like that in your local community. It’s just not how you want to live, it’s supposed to be a safe society.

“(Police) put their life on the line every day. They’ve got to be recognised.”

Six people were injured in the stabbing incident on the Princes Highway in Engadine. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Video from the scene moments after the crash showed dozens of onlookers watching as the alleged attacker stood in the middle of the intersection and widespread debris, shouting at the crowd.

The Princes Hwy was shut off in both directions for several hours, causing traffic chaos on the busy Sunday morning.

Premier Chris Minns commented on the incident on social media, thanking those who responded for their bravery.

“I’m aware of the terrible incident that unfolded in Engadine this morning,” he said

“I’ve been briefed by the Minister, Commissioner of Police and senior police officers on the case.

“I want to thank the brave NSW Police officers, first responders and members of the public for their actions.

“We are thinking of those innocent people who have been injured.”

No charges have so far been laid over the incident.