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Man charged over alleged hit-run after wheelchair footballer struck by car on Bourke St

A MAN has been charged over an alleged hit-run on a wheelchair footballer on Bourke St last week. He faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court last night.

Car smashes into man in wheelchair before speeding off in Melbourne (7 News Melbourne)

A MAN has been charged over an alleged hit-run on a wheelchair footballer on Bourke St last week.

A 23-year-old Altona North man handed himself in to Melbourne North police station on Monday.

He faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday night on charges of fail to stop and render assistance at the scene of an accident and other traffic-related offences.

MAN IN WHEELCHAIR STRUCK IN ALLEGED DOCKLANDS HIT-RUN

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Judeland Antony suffered a broken pelvis and hand and a serious spinal cord injury after being struck while crossing Bourke St in Docklands at 1.20pm last Tuesday.

Mr Antony started playing wheelchair football three years ago and represented Victoria before being recruited by ­Richmond.

He became a paraplegic after being injured in a blast in Sri Lanka in 1996.

Hit run driver mows down wheelchair man in DocklandsPicture: Channel 7
Hit run driver mows down wheelchair man in DocklandsPicture: Channel 7
Judeland Antony suffered a broken pelvis and hand and serious spinal cord injury after being struck while crossing Bourke St. Picture: Facebook
Judeland Antony suffered a broken pelvis and hand and serious spinal cord injury after being struck while crossing Bourke St. Picture: Facebook

CCTV footage showed a blue Ford hatchback hitting Mr ­Antony near the intersection of Cumberland St and Seafarers Lane.

The force of the crash sent Mr Antony flying into the air before sliding off the side of the car, part of the RACV’s car share fleet, and tumbling into the road.

“After seeing the footage, it could have been worse,” Mr Antony said as he recovered at Royal Melbourne Hospital on Wednesday.

“It is a miracle I’m having a chat with everyone I love.

“I had a good look at the road and when I was looking at it, I couldn’t see any cars. Then from my blind spot I saw something. It was like a nightmare.

“Lucky, I connected with the side of the car rather than the middle of the car.”

The man was remanded in custody to appear before court on November 29.

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/man-arrested-after-wheelchair-footballer-struck-by-car-on-bourke-st/news-story/3964590d3dbf1424a7c289f9baa39103