Sydney rampage: Police charge rental driver after multiple hit-and-runs
A Queensland-plated driver who allegedly went on an angry hit-and-run rampage through Sydney, causing eight crashes in just three hours, has been hit with 25 charges.
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A Queensland-plated driver who allegedly went on a hit-and-run rampage across a string of Sydney suburbs has been slapped with 25 charges.
Police allege Queensland man Mark Joel Healy, 35, put three cyclists in hospital and smashed five cars in eight separate crashes across Sydney, which started just an hour after his licence was suspended on the morning of July 19.
Healy, driving a rented SUV, was pulled over by police at Bar Point on the Central Coast about 8.20am for allegedly exceeding the speed limit by more that 45km/h. He was fined and his licence was suspended on the spot.
Less than hour after police stopped Healy, the same vehicle, a grey Holden Equinox, allegedly collided with a cyclist on the Pacific Highway at Lindfield, injuring the 48-year-old man.
Minutes later, and just 2km south of the first collision, the same SUV allegedly rammed into another cyclist, causing a 55-year-old man to suffer five fractured ribs and a fractured collarbone.
Police allege the driver failed to stop and fled the scene on both occasions.
Shortly after, the SUV was travelling southbound in the Eastern Distributor tunnel at Woolloomooloo when it allegedly rammed a 2012 Mercedes C220 from behind.
The sedan spun out, blocking all three lanes of the tunnel, as police allege the SUV fled the scene.
Minutes later, a Land Rover Sport was allegedly hit by an SUV as it was travelling east along Alison Rd at Kensington.
A 36-year-old man driving a Subaru WRX witnessed the crash and was noting the man’s number plate when police allege the SUV driver deliberately reversed towards him, causing another crash with a Mitsubishi Eclipse.
About 10am a 36-year-old man was cycling west along Perry St, Matraville when he was allegedly hit from behind by the SUV, knocking him off his bike. He sustained cuts to his left elbow and back.
Thirty minutes later, a woman driving a Subaru Forrester along Bridge Rd, Glebe was allegedly struck by an SUV before the driver again sped away.
At around 11.15am, a 59-year-old woman was driving her Subaru Outback along Epping Rd in Lane Cove when police allege the SUV drove beside her and deliberately swerved into her lane, ramming her from the side before fleeing.
The SUV alleged to be at the centre of each incident was located on July 20 and Healy was taken into custody before being taken to Nepean Hospital for treatment.
He was released about 2.30pm on Monday before being charged with predatory driving, driving while suspended, nine counts of driving recklessly/furiouskly/in a dangerous manner, five counts of failing to stop after causing injury, four counts of not giving particulars to an injured person and five counts of nomgiving particulars to another driver.
He was refused bail and will appear in Penrith Local Court today
Because Healy did not own the rented SUV, police were unable to impound the vehicle when he was originally pulled over for speeding.
Superintendent Jenny Scholz said detectives will allege the rampage was intentional.
Cyclist Mark Royle, the second of Healy’s alleged victims, said his helmet saved his life.
“I’ve got like five broken ribs and a broken collarbone … I’m very glad my helmet was good, my helmet saved my head,” he said.
Chloe Morrissey, 21, was driving inside the Eastern Distributor tunnel with her mum on Sunday when she allegedly saw the SUV “fly past” her family car moments before it hit the Mercedes.
“It’s lucky the crash wasn’t any more serious,” she said.