An accident waiting to happen: driving instructor injured on notorious stretch during lesson

EXCLUSIVE: More than 45 crashes have taken place at this dangerous black-spot since 2010 and on Monday another accident at the location left a driving instructor hospitalised.

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PRIOR to Monday’s near-fatal accident, at least 45 crashes were recorded on the notorious 300m stretch of St Ives’ Eastern Arterial in five years, the North Shore Times has exclusively learned.

The alarming number of incidents occurred between 2010 and 2014 along the short passage north of the southern intersection with Burraneer Ave, bearing out locals’ fear that this stretch of road was a serious accident “waiting to happen”.

Ku-ring-gai Council’s traffic committee resolved last November to undertake a road and safety audit in response to concerns.

Councillor Christiane Berlioz said she raised the issue after several residents voiced concern.

“It was an accident waiting to happen,” Cr Berlioz told the North Shore Times.

An Roads and Maritime Services spokeswoman said the council had made a number of improvements to the length of Eastern Arterial Rd, including signposting and delineation.

“The Federal Government gave the council $351,000 under the Nation Building Blackspot Programme to install a high-friction road surface,” she said.

It was completed and open to traffic on March 28, 2013.

Residents have witnessed dozens of collisions on this one short stretch. Picture: Virginia Young

The council’s director of operations Greg Piconi said “following completion, there was a significant reduction in the number of accidents”.

“It is only recently that accidents have increased (again),” Mr Piconi said.

Simon Pallister, who was a resident on the stretch for four years, said it was only a matter of time before a crash resulted in serious injury.

“(When) the road was wet, people would come down the hill and misjudge what’s happening there. All of a sudden it turns, with an ever sharpening corner,” he said.

On “several occasions” he said he found people sitting in their car on the median strip in front of his home.

“You could see all the dings on the kerb,” he said.

“Thankfully it was always minor … until recently.”

INSTRUCTOR INJURED ON ROAD AFTER CRASH INVOLVING LEARNER

A DRIVING instructor rem­ains in a serious condition in hospital after a horror two-car crash during a lesson on Monday morning.

Instructor Anthony Lam, 53, was in the front passenger seat of the silver Toyota Corolla with an 18-year-old female learner driver when the accident occurred in St Ives. The father of two was cut from the vehicle by emergency crews.

He was rushed to Royal North Shore Hospital in a critical condition with serious head and chest injuries.

The sharp bend is treacherous in wet conditions. Picture: Will Cameron

Four other people, including the learner driver and a 53-year-old back seat passenger, were treated for minor injuries but later discharged after the HK Driving School vehicle collided with a white Mercedes on Eastern Arterial Rd about 11am.

The 31-year-old female driver of the Mercedes and her 28-year-old female passenger were treated at the scene by paramedics and taken to hospital as a precaution.

HK Driving School manager John Ng, who was contacted by police after the incident, said Mr Lam was a “very good friend”.

He told the North Shore Times Mr Lam’s wife and two young children were in Hong Kong at the time of the accident.

“His wife is in Sydney next to him now,” Mr Ng said. “She flew in this (Wednesday) morning.”

Mr Ng said Mr Lam’s daughter, 7, and son, 4, remained in Hong Kong and were in the care of their grandmother.

The Lam family are Australian citizens, but Mrs Lam had taken the children back to Hong Kong to learn the language, according to Mr Ng.

At the time of the crash Mr Ng, unable to contact Mr Lam’s family, took a train to the hospital to be with his friend.

Local resident Will Cameron said a “convoy” of emergency vehicles rushed towards the scene, including a CareFlight helicopter.

“When I got there they were removing the injured from the cars,” Mr Cameron said.

He said the helicopter came over “really low” but ultimately was not used to transport Mr Lam.

The road remained closed for more than four hours while the NSW Police Crash Investigation Unit examined the scene.

Those directly involved in the crash underwent mandatory blood and ­alcohol testing.

Police are appealing for witnesses and are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.