Roosters’ Sandon Smith charged with negligent driving causing grievous bodily harm

The star rookie halfback leading the Roosters into the future has been charged with a serious driving offence after a pedestrian was allegedly gravely injured in a bizarre crash.

Sandon Smith of the Roosters in action during the round 22 NRL match between Brisbane Broncos and Sydney Roosters at The Gabba on July 27, 2023.

A Roosters’ star rookie halfback was behind the wheel of an Audi when he allegedly caused a bizarre crash in which a male pedestrian suffered a gruesome foot injury.

Sandon Smith is set to face the Downing Centre Local Court for the first time on Friday, charged with negligent driving causing grievous bodily harm over the incident in Vaucluse on March 13.

“Officers attached to Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command arrived and found an Audi sedan, Toyota SUV and Mazda SUV had collided after the driver of the Audi, a 21-year-old man, allegedly failed to give way,” a NSW Police spokeswoman said in a statement.

“NSW Ambulance paramedics treated a 38-year-old man at the scene for serious foot injuries before taking him to St Vincent’s Hospital.”

The male was understood to have been treated for a grave degloving injury.

Sandon Smith’s case is due before court on Friday.

A Roosters spokesperson confirmed they were aware of the matter and the NRL integrity unit has been notified.

It is understood the NRL was not aware of Smith’s charge at all until it received an inquiry about it from The Daily Telegraph on Thursday.

It is understood police will allege Smith was edging out of his driveway, where his view was obstructed by a parked truck, when another car hit him, and pushed his car into the pedestrian.

Almost six months had passed since the crash in March before Smith was charged and issued a future court attendance notice on September 10.

The maximum potential penalty if Smith pleads or is found guilty of the charge is a nine-month prison term.

The 21-year-old halfback rode in to rescue a Roosters side decimated by injury for the finals series, pairing with Luke Keary in the club’s campaign before they were knocked out in the preliminary final.

The NSW Cup star was propelled into the starting side after Sam Walker tore his ACL, in a horror week for the club that also saw Brandon Smith, Victor Radley and Nat Butcher wiped out with injuries ahead of their finals campaign.

He enjoyed the confidence of senior Roosters stars James Tedesco and Angus Crichton.

“We’ve got all the confidence and belief in ‘Sando’,” Tedesco said in September after the Panthers knocked out the Roosters to proceed to the 2024 grand final.

“He’s a confident kid and I know we’ll get the best out of him. He just has to play his role because I love playing with him. He’s a really good kid and I know he’s going to keep getting better and better.”

It was anticipated Smith would start for the Roosters in 2025 as the club looks to develop him as Walker’s long-term partner in the halves.

The Central Coast-born rising star created history in 2023 as the first player to make his NRL debut for the Sydney Roosters after progressing through the club’s Central Coast pathways program.

In an Instagram story on Wednesday, which has since lapsed, Smith appeared to be in Japan, posting a picture of Shibuya station in Tokyo.
The Daily Telegraph has reached out to his manager for comment.

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Originally published as Roosters’ Sandon Smith charged with negligent driving causing grievous bodily harm