A rideshare driver has been charged following a bizarre incident in Sydney's central business district, where he allegedly crashed a car into a fountain and was discovered by police eating a McDonald's delivery meal from the front seat.
Incident Details
Officers were called to Hyde Park at approximately 3 a.m. on Wednesday after receiving reports that a vehicle had reversed into the Archibald Fountain, a historic landmark. Upon arrival, police found a rental SUV stuck on the edge of the fountain, causing an estimated $20,000 in damage.
The driver, a 21-year-old French national residing in Australia on a working visa, was reportedly eating the McDonald's meal he was meant to deliver when officers approached. He allegedly told police that he was delivering a food order at the time of the crash.
Legal Proceedings
The man was taken to St Vincent's Hospital as a precaution for assessment and blood tests after returning a negative alcohol reading at the scene. He was later charged with negligent driving, failing to reverse a vehicle safely, and unlicensed driving.
The driver has been granted conditional bail and is scheduled to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on July 15.
Aftermath
The rental SUV has since been removed from the fountain, which was built to commemorate the ties between Australia and France during the First World War. The incident has drawn attention due to its unusual circumstances, involving a rideshare driver, a historic landmark, and a fast-food meal.
