Multiple people injured in alleged Engadine stabbing incident

A witness has told of the horrifying moments that allegedly left a woman critical and a police officer seriously injured following an apparent car crash.

A man allegedly slashed his partner with a box cutter before crashing his car during a horror incident in Sydney’s south on Sunday morning.

Four people – including a police officer – were injured during the stabbing spree with a major police operation now underway.

Police and paramedics raced to what they believed was a regulation two-car crash on the Princes Highway at Engadine about 9am.

The car was reported to be driving erratically before crashing into another vehicle.

The 58-year-old man from southwestern Sydney allegedly continued to slash at his 48-year-old partner inside the crashed vehicle as bystanders ran to her aid.

Police say the man also suffered self-inflicted wounds before he was tasered, taken into custody and transported to hospital in a critical condition.

During the man’s arrest, a police officer suffered a large laceration to his wrist.

He was taken to hospital but on Sunday afternoon was said to be “doing well” and in a stable condition.

The scene of the crash. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Police responded to what they initially thought was a regulation two-car accident. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw.

Multiple people were stabbed during the incident. Picture: Nine News.

“That vehicle has collided with another vehicle and a number of members of the community stopped to assist both occupants from both those vehicle,” NSW Police Superintendent Donald Faulds said.

“Community members were assisting one of the females out of one vehicle, the male got out of the vehicle armed with what we believe to be a box cutter.

“And the female had sustained a number of injuries from an altercation inside the vehicle.

“That male was engaged by the police, a short foot pursuit occurred, a taser deployment was initiated and that person was taken into custody.”

Police are now investigating the incident. Picture: NewsWire/Damian Shaw.

Traffic was closed on the Princes Highway as a result. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw.

The 48-year-old woman passenger was taken to St George Hospital in a critical condition after being slashed a number of times.

Police said she and the man were in a relationship.

Another man was taken to hospital with stab wounds to his arm and neck and was on Sunday afternoon in a serious but stable condition.

Paramedics also treated another woman for an abdominal stab wound. She was in a serious but stable condition in hospital.

Police on Sunday praised the “brave” and “amazing” people who went to the woman’s aid.

“They’ve just turned up thinking it was a normal motor vehicle accident,” Superintendent Faulds said.

“They’ve gone to render assistance to both people and they were faced with a male armed with a boxcutter.”

Police have asked for anyone with information or vision of the incident to contact CrimeStoppers.

Two other people were injured in the crash.

Cronulla Sharks chairman Steve Mace told the Daily Telegraph on Sunday he was on his way to a footy game when he saw a crash in front of him.

He got out to check on the car’s occupants, but instead became a first-hand witness to the incident.

Cronulla Sharks chairman Steve Mace. Picture: Supplied.

He said he went to check on the people in one of the cars when he heard screaming.

Mr Mace said when he attempted to open the door to help the woman in the passenger seat, the man in the driver’s seat allegedly started slashing her.

“All of a sudden I saw him just slashing her,” Mr Mace told the Daily Telegraph.

“I was trying to drag her out of the car to stop the stabbing and he was swiping at us.”

Mr Mace said he received a minor gash in the incident.

Police allege another bystander tried to come to the aid of the woman before he too was allegedly stabbed.

Mr Mace said he and the other man finally got the woman out of the car, but moved her back into the car as the man allegedly came at her once again.

Mr Mace said he was involved with a stand-off with the man “which felt like an hour”.

The incident came to an end when police arrived and the man attempted to run from the scene before he was tasered.

Mr Mace said the man was ranting to them about how the woman “changed the radio station”.

ENGADINE: Princes Hwy is closed southbound near Old Bush Rd due to a Police operation. From Kirrawee, all vehicles can use Old Princes Hwy, The Grand Pde, Linden St, River Rd, Bangor Bypass, New Illawarra Rd, Heathcote Rd, & back to the highway. Allow plenty of extra travel time.

— Live Traffic Sydney (@LiveTrafficSyd) August 24, 2024

The Princes Highway was closed in both directions and motorists were urged to avoid the area.

NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley said an investigation into the incident was underway.

“I’ve been advised that the person of interest has been arrested,” she told reporters.

“There is no threat to the community, so I just want the community to know that there is no threat whatsoever.”