Jordan Maaka: Beverly Hills crash driver fronts court after hospital release

The driver of a terrifying car crash into a power pole that injured all involved at Beverly Hills faced court on Wednesday after being unable to appear the previous day. Find out what happened.

The driver who allegedly crashed into a power pole with four young passengers in the car has appeared in court after an arrest warrant was issued.

Carramar’s Jordan Tye Maaka, 18, failed to appear in Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday for a mention of his case.

Magistrate Melissa Humphreys issued an arrest warrant about 3.30pm after Maaka did not show.

On Wednesday, the court heard Maaka was still in Liverpool Hospital and was unable to attend, with his medical attendance record not sent to the magistrate.

Maaka was given police bail after he was arrested on Tuesday night and he appeared in Sutherland Local Court for a brief mention of his case.

Jordan Maaka appeared in Sutherland Local Court after he was released from hospital. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

The police prosecutor told the court Maaka’s case had been referred for possible election by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The arrest warrant was withdrawn and the case was adjourned for two weeks to October 5.

Maaka lost control of his Honda Accord while coming around a bend on Stoney Creek Rd at Beverly Hills, in Sydney’s west, about 5.55am on Friday – crashing through the front fence of a home before bouncing into a power pole.

Maaka broke his left arm in the crash while his four passengers – two girls, both aged 16, and two boys aged 15 and 16 – suffered injuries including a fractured pelvis, a fractured collar bone and a cut so deep to one of their throats that their jaw bone was visible.

Maaka is charged with dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, negligent driving causing grievous bodily harm, three counts of causing a bodily injury in charge of a motor vehicle, and driving while suspended.

From his bed at Liverpool Hospital, where he was under police guard, the teenage driver faced Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday.

Jordan Maaka was supported by family and friends when he appeared in Sutherland Local Court on Wednesday. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

Maaka was granted bail but ordered to be in the company of his mother whenever he is not at home, unless he is going to his job loading trucks in a Fantastic Furniture factory.

During the hearing on Sunday, the court was told incredible details about the crash, including that police allege Maaka “was consuming alcohol while driving” and references to the wake of the horror Buxton crash that took five lives just 10 days earlier.

“It is only through sheer good luck that the collision did not result in the death of all five teenagers,” part of the police fact sheet in relation to the Beverly Hills crash read.

NSW Police prosecutor William Jarbeau opposed Maaka’s application for bail, telling the court the accused had a suspended licence at the time of the crash – albeit due to unpaid fines.

The mangled Honda Accord was carrying four young people and the driver on Stoney Creek Rd in Beverly Hills where it struck a power pole. Picture: Julian Andrews

“Not only was he driving dangerously, but he had no licence, so should not have been driving at all,” Mr Jarbeau said.

“It occurred within two weeks of the other incident when five young people died (at Buxton).

“We say the community has certainly had enough of this type of incident involving death and injury.”

Mr Jarbeau also showed to the court a Google Maps image which he alleged depicted the distance between the bend in Stoney Creek Rd and the house the car crashed into, and therefore supported the allegation the car was speeding.

16th September 2022. The Daily Telegraph. News Beverly Hills, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Pics by Julian Andrews. General scenes of a single car crash on Stoney Creek Rd in Beverly Hills where a Honda Accord carrying five young people struck a power pole. Thankfully there were no fatalities in this accident.

But in granting bail Magistrate Holdsworth slammed the efforts of investigators who drafted the fact sheet relied on in court, saying that despite referencing allegations about speeding and alcohol use, there was “no evidence” in the document to support that.

“In my view these facts are poorly drafted in relation to substantiating the charges laid,” she said.

“There’s no evidence to substantiate speed or the consumption of alcohol.

“I can see no evidence pointing to the misconduct of the individual (Maaka) while in charge of the motor vehicle.