Police estimate that two men riding a shopping trolley down a steep hill in Sydney’s east overnight reached speeds of up to 80km/h before they crashed into a vehicle, killing one of the men and critically injuring the other.
One of the men was riding in the metal shopping trolley while the other was standing on the back of the trolley as they travelled down Coogee Bay Road in Randwick about 12.20am on Tuesday.
Chief Inspector Chris Stiles said the men, both aged 28 and originally from Sweden, were believed to have crossed to the incorrect side of the road near Coogee Bay Road’s intersection with Judge Street.
They crashed at high speed into a vehicle travelling in the opposite direction. Both men were thrown from the trolley onto the road and suffered critical injuries.
“The estimate is that the men were travelling about 80km/h in the trolley, so they had certainly gathered some speed,” Chief Inspector Stiles said.
One of the men died at the scene, while paramedics treated the second man before taking him to St Vincent’s Hospital, where he remained on Tuesday morning.
The 45-year-old male driver of the vehicle was not injured, and was taken to hospital for mandatory testing.
Chief Inspector Stiles said one of the Swedish men had been living in Australia for the past two years, and his friend had arrived about a week ago to visit him.
“It sounds like they might have had a bit of fun together, resulting in this terrible incident,” he said.
Chief Inspector Stiles said it was not clear what the pair had been doing before deciding to ride the trolley down the steep road, and police would investigate whether alcohol was involved.
He said it was a terrible and traumatic situation for the two men and the driver of the vehicle, who had given a statement to police about what happened.
The trolley remained near the intersection on Tuesday morning, its front left side badly damaged from the impact.
Police are continuing to investigate the crash.
The 45-year-old male driver of the vehicle was not injured, and was taken to hospital for mandatory testing.
Chief Inspector Stiles said one of the Swedish men had been living in Australia for the past two years, and his friend had arrived about a week ago to visit him.
“It sounds like they might have had a bit of fun together, resulting in this terrible incident,” he said.
Chief Inspector Stiles said it was not clear what the pair had been doing before deciding to ride the trolley down the steep road, and police would investigate whether alcohol was involved.
He said it was a terrible and traumatic situation for the two men and the driver of the vehicle, who had given a statement to police about what happened.
The trolley remained near the intersection on Tuesday morning, its front left side badly damaged from the impact.
Police are continuing to investigate the crash.
source:smh.com.au
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 