A man who helped pull passengers from the wreckage of a high-speed crash in Sydney’s Inner West has been charged with assaulting police and paramedics.
A 28-year-old man was previously charged with driving in a dangerous manner after his black MG SUV smashed into a Mercedes on King Street in Newtown about 7pm on Sunday.
Gary Burnett, 20, was initially believed to be a passenger in the MG but it has since emerged he was a witness and among the first on the scene.
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Footage shows him eating a chocolate bar on King Street before the crash.
Burnett came to the aid of those injured, however police allege he later interfered with officers as police and ambulance attended the scene.
He was arrested and has been charged with hindering or resisting police, assaulting police officer and assaulting a frontline emergency worker.
“I was sort of surprised because he was just sort of helping out as well,” one fellow witness told 9News.
Burnett didn’t apply for bail when his matter was briefly mentioned in a Parramatta court this morning.
He will be back before a magistrate next week.
The 43-year-old driver of the Mercedes along with a 67-year-old woman, a 42-year-old woman, a nine-year-old girl and 12-year-old boy, who were all from the same family, were taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital with minor injuries.
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CCTV footage shows the MG and Mercedes crashing head-on.
The crash brought the busy road to a standstill.
Witnesses told 9News the crash happened in front of diners on the popular restaurant strip.
“People, kids [were] inside the restaurant,” one witness said.
“We thought it was like a bomb.”
“I hope the family is okay because they are completely innocent,” another added.
The driver, 43, was treated by paramedics before being taken to St Vincent’s Hospital for further assessment and mandatory testing.
He has been suspended from driving and will face court on August 4.
Anyone with information or dashcam footage is urged to contact Inner West Police Area Command or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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