Sydney Harbour Bridge crash driver avoid prison for fiery collision

The man who took an Uber driver’s car before causing a horrific three-car crash which brought Sydney to a standstill has learned his fate.

A drug-addicted young man has avoided prison after he brought Sydney to a standstill when he slammed a stolen car into oncoming traffic on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, after telling an Uber driver “I’ll kill you”.

Christopher Walker, 21, sat in the dock of the NSW District Court on Monday as he learned he wouldn’t be jailed over the fiery crash, which nearly claimed his life and left one man in hospital for more than a month.

Walker pleaded guilty to assault with intent to take motor vehicle and dangerous driving occasioning actual bodily harm.

Christopher Walker leaving court after he learnt his fate on Monday. Picture: NCA NewsWire

The court heard Walker, who was 19 at the time, had taken ice on the morning of March 7, 2022, before approaching Uber driver Aetaz Farooq, who was fixing a punctured tyre on his Toyota Kluger on Sussex St in the city’s CBD.

“You have a nice car, mate,” Walker told him before jumping in the driver’s seat.

The court was told Walker asked Mr Farooq to turn the car on, before snatching the keys off him in a struggle and pushing the Uber driver to the ground.

“Get the f**k away from the car or I’ll kill you,” he said, according to court documents, before speeding away.

Moments later, Walker sped onto the Sydney Harbour Bridge before his car careened into oncoming traffic, slamming into a Toyota HiAce van, which was being driven by Andrew Cheng.

Another car, a blue Honda CRV attempted to brake suddenly but slammed into the passenger side of the van in a three-car pileup.

The force of the crash flipped the stolen Toyota Kluger, which was immediately set alight, trapping Walker upside down, the court was told.

Court documents revealed nearby motorists managed to free Walker and pull him through the window, having to move his body out of reach of the flames.

Walker was 19 when he drove a Toyota Kluger that crashed and burst into flames on the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Picture: 9 News

As he was pulled from the wreckage, Walker was semi-conscious and attempted to kick and push the motorists who had come to his aid.

He was also combative with paramedics and had to be sedated as he was loaded into an ambulance and rushed to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

The court was told Mr Cheng suffered numerous injuries, including a compound fracture in his right forearm, and had to undergo three surgeries and was kept in hospital for a month.

Judge Justin Smith told the court he found Walker to be genuine and honest when he took to the witness stand and previously told the court he felt “horrible”.

“He stated he felt horrible for what he had done - particularly that he had robbed Mr Cheng of a better life,” Judge Smith said.

Walker himself suffered a collapsed lung and was put into an induced coma for a night before he was arrested on March 11.

He spent six months in custody before being released into a full-time rehabilitation centre.

The wild crash was caught on dashcam footage. Picture: Supplied

The 21-year-old has not touched drugs since his arrest, the court was told.

On sentence, Judge Smith also took into account two further charges - driving a vehicle with an illicit drug present in blood and driving furious to cause bodily harm.

He sentenced Walker to an aggregate prison sentence of two years and nine months, to be served in the community by way of an Intensive Corrections Order.

The 21-year-old must also complete 50 hours of community service.

At the end of the sentence, Judge Smith addressed the young man directly.

“Mr Walker can I just say this, i’ve imposed a prison sentence on you but ordered you serve it in the community on strict conditions, if you do not comply… my orders might be overturned and you will go back to prison... do you understand?” the judge said.

Walker replied: “Yes, your honour”.