Driver in $20,000 fountain crash was eating Maccas when police arrived
Updated . First published
A French man charged after reversing into an iconic memorial fountain in Sydney’s Hyde Park overnight was eating the food he had been enlisted to deliver when officers arrived on the scene, police say.
At about 3am, police were called to St James Road, Sydney.
A French national has been charged after crashing into the Archibald Fountain at Hyde Park in Sydney overnight. NSW Police
They found a rental SUV stuck on the outer edge of the Archibald Fountain in Hyde Park, with its rear wheels in the water and its front wheels in the air.
The driver, a 21-year-old French man, was still inside the car, and Inspector Anderson Lessing said police helped remove him.
Lessing said police are alleging the man drove down Elizabeth Street, turned left into Hyde Park, and reversed into the fountain.
“I’m unsure (how). It’s up to the French national to explain himself there,” Lessing said.
He did say police believe the man had been confused when he drove into Hyde Park and that the incident was not deliberate.
He said the man was delivering an order of McDonald’s when the accident took place.
“The only reason we know that is because he was eating the food when police arrived on scene,” Lessing said.
A hire car crashed into the Archibald Fountain in Hyde Park, Sydney. 9News
“So I’m sure there’s some unhappy customer out there who still hasn’t had their Macca’s delivered, unfortunately.”
The fountain sustained minimal damage, but police said they were told full costs were estimated between $15,000 and $20,000.
Lessing said a full assessment would be carried out by the city council, but that there was no structural damage and the fountain was still operating.
The driver was uninjured and returned a negative breath test at the scene. He was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital for mandatory testing.
Lessing confirmed a canister, colloquially known as a “nang” or nitrous oxide canister, had been retrieved from the car.
Footage from the scene early this morning showed the car had been removed from the fountain.
Lessing said the driver, who was on a working visa, had been in Australia for about two weeks.
He has been charged with negligent driving, not reversing safely, and unlicensed driving.
An operation was held to remove the car from the fountain, which only received minimal damage. Today
Lessing said the man had not produced a valid licence, and had refused to be interviewed. He confirmed a French interpreter had been available for the interview.
The driver was granted bail to appear in court on July 15.
The Archibald Fountain was unveiled in 1932, and commemorates the relationship forged between Australia and France in WWI.
It was funded by money left in the will of The Bulletin magazine founder, JF Archibald, and sculpted by French artist Francois Sicard.
“That holds some significance to us,” Lessing said.
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