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Five teenagers will suffer ‘lifelong consequences’ as a result of the fiery crash of a speeding car on Sunday as it’s revealed three are from a wealthy Sydney suburb.
Several of the occupants are in induced comas with spinal and head injuries a day after the crash at Cammeray, on Sydney’s lower north shore, about 5pm on Sunday.
The Holden Commodore allegedly reached speeds of 150km/h as it led police on a wild chase before it crashed into a tree and burst into flames.
NSW Police Detective Superintendent Paul Devaney said on Monday that three of the occupants were from Mosman.
That includes a 16-year-old girl who was allegedly behind the wheel and had never held a driver’s licence.
Supt Devaney said the crash occurred after a fight in nearby Wollstonecraft where a 17-year-old boy was allegedly assaulted after organising to meet the car’s occupants.
Five teenagers will suffer ‘lifelong consequences’ as a result of the fiery crash as it’s revealed three are from a wealthy Sydney suburb
Several of the occupants are in induced comas with serious spinal and head injuries following the crash at Cammeray, on the lower north shore, at 5pm Sunday
Witnesses say the car was chased by police at speeds of up to 150km/h before it slammed into a tree and burst into flames
‘There was an affray in which a male was being assaulted by four persons… sometime before the crash,’ he said.
A 16-year-old girl who was in the front passenger seat is from Glenwood, two 17-year-old boys who were in the back seat are also from Mosman, and an 18-year-old male passenger, the owner of the vehicle, is from Hornsby.
The alleged assault at Wollstonecraft was violent enough for a witness to call police, who arrived about 4.30pm and spoke with the 17-year-old who was allegedly bashed by four of the five car occupants.
Ten minutes later police saw the red Holden Commodore and gave chase.
Supt Devaney said the unlicensed 16-year-old girl driving the car ‘failed to stop’ and was then pursued until the vehicle crashed into a tree and burst into flames.
He said he was ‘convinced we would have had a fatality’ if police and members of the public had not helped drag the five teens from the vehicle and render first aid.
He pleaded for any eyewitnesses or people with CCTV or dashcam footage of either the fight or the car pursuit and crash to come forward.
‘This was a horrific incident that is likely to have lifelong consequences for all involved,’ he said.
Supt Devaney said only the alleged Wollstonecraft assault victim had been interviewed and police were yet to speak with the driver or the four passengers.
Officers were forced to abandon the pursuit before the vehicle then smashed into a tree and burst into flames on West Street, in Cammeray, at 5pm
The crash caused lengthy traffic delays on the Sydney Harbour Bridge while rescue helicopters interrupted a local cricket game when they landed in the middle of nearby Bon Andrews Oval.
The five teenagers were rushed to Royal North Shore Hospital where they remain in critical condition.
Shocked witnesses recalled seeing the maroon car careening through the quiet suburban backstreets allegedly being chased by police at speeds of up to 150km/h.
‘I looked out my window and saw the car racing past at very high speed,’ one woman told Daily Mail Australia.
A CareFlight rescue helicopter landed in the middle of Bon Andrews Oval and stopped play
Police had to smash the car window to pull out the injured victims from the wreckage as shocked witnesses watched on
Abandoned clothing and shoes were strewn all over the footpath after the horror crash
‘I could hear them being chased by police through the streets for ages afterwards. You could hear the V8 engine being thrashed. It was incredibly dangerous.’
Police and witnesses were forced to smash the car windows to pull occupants from the mangled wreckage before they were rushed to hospital.
Abandoned clothing and footwear were strewn across the footpath.
Several pedestrians were also caught up in the chaos.
‘There was a woman on the side of the road, there was blood everywhere,’ one witness told Ten News.
CareFlight crews were deployed to assist the injured with the helicopter forced to land in the middle of Bon Andrews Oval and stopped play during a local cricket match
Another woman added: ‘It was frightening, I started crying. My heart is still pounding.’
‘There were people resuscitating them (the injured teens) and lots of cops.
‘The car caught fire and there was a loud bang as the car blew up.’
Police have launched a critical incident investigation which will be subject to independent review.
The packed car (pictured) was allegedly chased by police at speeds of up to 150km/h before it lost control and slammed into a tree, trapping the occupants inside
A rescue helicopter and multiple ambulances were called to the scene in West St Cammeray to ferry the injured to hospital
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