Rizwhan Asraf: McClean St Blacktown gas leak, crash driver sentenced

A man nearly caused an explosion after crashing his dad’s Mercedes into a home, triggering a gas leak. What he told cops after has been described as ‘nonsensical and illogical’.

A driver has been told he is lucky to be alive after he crashed into the front of a home and triggered a gas leak and evacuation.

Rizwhan Asraf, 35, of Woodcroft, pleaded guilty to negligent driving and failing to submit to a breath test after the crash in Blacktown in February.

According to police documents, Ashraf was driving his father’s Mercedes on McClean St on the evening of February 13 when he lost control on a bend and smashed into the front letterbox and garden of two homes.

Rizwhan Asraf, 35, of Woodcroft, faces Blacktown Local Court.

Asraf hit a gas meter in the garden, triggering a large natural gas leak, documents read.

At the sound of the smash, neighbours rushed outside to inspect the damage and saw Asraf’s vehicle stuck in the garden.

Emergency crews were called to the scene, with specialist gas technicians setting up an exclusion zone in the street and evacuating nearby homes.

Police described Asraf’s reason behind the crash as “nonsensical and illogical” with him telling officers he had been driving when he smelt gas and pulled over to investigate.

“He was adamant he had not been involved in a collision when he could first smell the gas”, documents read.

When police tried to do a breath test, they say Asraf had difficulty in providing a sample, and failed to provide a sample on two further attempts at the police station.

Blacktown Court. Picture: David Swift

In sentencing Asraf at Blacktown Local Court on Tuesday, Magistrate Karen Robinson said he was lucky the collision was not more serious.

“You are so very lucky there was no explosion, you may not have been here otherwise,” Magistrate Robinson said.

He received a Community Corrections Order for 15 months and was ordered to perform 60 hours of community service.

He was also fined $440 and disqualified from driving for six months.