Salim Mehajer crashes car, misses court date and spends day in hospital

SALIM Mehajer was due to face court yesterday but ended up being ferried to hospital in an ambulance, laid out on a stretcher, wrapped in a neck brace and pumped full of painkillers after a nasty crash in Lidcombe which left his Mercedes totalled.

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DUE to face a charge of assaulting a taxi driver, controversial former Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer planned to make his entrance by driving to court in a luxury Mercedes.

But instead, the man who gained national notoriety after closing off public streets for a showy multimillion-dollar wedding in 2015, ended up being ferried to hospital in a NSW ambulance, laid out on a stretcher, wrapped in a neck brace and pumped full of painkillers.

The developer was taken to Westmead Hospital emergency after his $100,000-plus 4WD Mercedes AMG and another car collided at an intersection not far from his home at Lidcombe.

Salim Mehajer had to be put in a neck brace as paramedics worked to get him out. Picture: Rob Quee

Emergency crews had to cut him free from the wreck. Picture: Rob Quee

Lying motionless, Mr Mehajer had to be cut free by rescue workers armed with metal-cutting jaws of life, leaving his luxury vehicle a doorless wreck.

The colourful businessman spent most of the day in hospital where he underwent scans to his neck.

The woman driving the other car — a Mitsubishi sport utility vehicle — was not seriously injured.

Across town at Sydney Downing Centre Local Court it was left to Mr Mehajer’s lawyer Brett Galloway to tell Magistrate Vivien Swain that his client would not make it.

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He was taken to hospital — where he spent most of the day receiving scans on his neck. Picture: Rob Quee

The other car involved in the crash. Picture: Rob Quee

“We have been shown footage your honour of him (Mr Mehajer) on a stretcher being put into the back of an ambulance,” Mr Galloway told the court.

“He had a back operation last year so he has bad back, so we are unsure how long he will remain in hospital. He is in a neck brace and has been given some morphine for the pain.”

Mr Mehajer was scheduled to appear in court for an all-day hearing on charges of assaulting a taxi driver outside The Star Casino in April.

Outside hospital another one of his lawyers Mahmoud Abbas told reporters the crash was an accident. “It is just ridiculous if you are insinuating anything,” he said.

Mr Mehajer’s lawyer Mahmoud Abbas told reporters the crash was an accident. Picture: Peter Rae

In 2016 Mr Mehajer was fined $200 for driving his Ferrari without his licence, but escaped conviction after pleading guilty to getting behind the wheel while the sports car was unregistered.

Lidcombe resident Carlos Serfin, 75, said he was just sitting down to a cup of tea when he heard the crash.

“I came out and I tried to help the woman,” he said.

“Then I saw the man, I didn’t know who he was at the time, and he wasn’t moving. He just stayed in that car until the fireman came with the big jaws and they cut away the front door and they put the neck brace on him.”

What is believed to be Salim’s family outside Westmead Hospital.

Mr Mehajer is also facing charges relating to an alleged assault of Seven journalist Laura Banks, who was allegedly injured while Mr Mehajer was trying to leave the police station after he was released from custody.

Mehajer’s case was adjourned to be heard today.