North Epping: Liz Albornoz killed when car crashes into Malton Road cafe
A group of mothers were enjoying a coffee and a chat at a North Epping cafe when a car driven by an elderly man ploughed into them. Mother-of-two Liz Albornoz was killed after being pinned by the vehicle while several others were injured.
Northern District Times
Don't miss out on the headlines from Northern District Times. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Man 'conspired with murderer to extort $300k': court
- Woman ‘lit fire after argument with boyfriend’: court
The 39-year-old mother who died when a car crashed into a North Epping cafe has been named as Liz Albornoz.
The mother-of-two was taken to hospital in a critical condition and died a short time later.
Tributes have started to come in for the mother, who worked as an events manager for Social Ventures Australia in the CBD.
She had been enjoying a coffee with friends outside Cafe Si Zac on Malton Rd around 10.30am.
Police said the 89-year-old male driver was understood to have driven into the group after attempting to park in a disabled parking space.
His car dropped down an embankment and “pinned” members of the group against the cafe.
Tributes have started to come in for the 39-year-old local woman.
“(The woman) and her husband come into the shop and they’re a lovely young family. It’s an absolute tragedy,” butcher Ryan Nicholls, of UpperCuts Butchery, said.
He described the chaotic scenes as locals rushed to the aid of the injured mums.
“I was making sausages when the crash happened - I heard a big thump,” he said.
“People were running and screaming and there was a doctor who helped
some of the people until the paramedics got here.
“North Epping is a tight-knit community - everyone know each other -
it’s like a country town. It’s a terrible thing to happen.”
North Epping Newsagency owner Peter Yang rushed to the scene after hearing a loud crash outside his shop.
“The car was up against the shop and people were trying to pull it off them,” he said
“The group was mostly women - I don’t know them but the cafe’s always busy with mums after dropping kids to school.”
It is understood her children go to Epping North Public School.
She was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital in a critical condition and later died of her injuries.
Nine other people were treated by paramedics for injuries including broken limbs. Five people were taken to hospital in a stable condition.
The driver, who was named as Keith Lockrey, has been taken to Ryde Hospital for mandatory blood and urine testing.
Mr Nicholls said the driver was a familiar face in the suburb.
“Everyone knows Keith and he’s always coming in the shop,” he said.
“Physically he wasn’t hurt by the crash but he was very shaken.”
Detective Inspector Mark Christie said an investigation into the cause of the incident was continuing.
“It appears to be quite a close-knit community - it’s a small suburban local shopping strip and it’s a very tragic set of circumstances that have occurred here today,” he said.
“Police haven’t been able to speak to the driver yet.”
NSW Ambulance superintendent Steve Vaughan said the incident was tragic.
“The scene was absolutely frantic for emergency services – there was carnage everywhere when we arrived,” he said.
Sad news in North Epping. One woman was killed and nine people injured when a car crashed into a business. My sympathies go out to the victim's family, and to everyone hurt. https://t.co/gNymuou7d2
— Dom Perrottet (@Dom_Perrottet) February 28, 2020
“This was a huge multi agency response where everyone worked closely as a team to help those who had been affected by the incident.”
Nearby shop owners said they heard “screaming” in the moments after the collision.
“I didn’t see it but I could hear people yelling and screaming – nothing like this has happened here before,” one shop owner said.
“The restaurant is always busy in the mornings. All we can hope is that everyone is okay.”
The Crash Investigation Unit is currently on scene and an investigation is continuing.
In an earlier statement police confirmed the woman was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital in a critical condition but later died.
“About 10am emergency services were called to Malton Road, North Epping, after a Holden Commodore drove into tables outside a cafe,” the statement continued.
“NSW Ambulance paramedics arrived and treated 10 people for multiple injuries.
“A 40-year-old woman was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital in a critical condition.
“The nine others were treated on scene; with four taken to hospital in a stable condition.
“Officers from Ryde Police Area Command attended and spoke with the driver, an 89-year-old man, who was taken to Ryde Hospital for mandatory testing.
More to come.