Shocking footage has emerged of people running for their lives after a car suddenly ploughed into a busy café and pinned an elderly woman against a wall.
The driver was captured on CCTV crashing his BMW into the front of The Cupcake Room on Norton Street in Leichhardt at about 9.50am on Saturday.
While the man, believed to be aged in his 30s, initially got out of the drivers seat, he got back behind the wheel and drove away just moments later.
Dozens of witnesses rushed to help the woman, who was sitting outside the cafe with her husband when tables and chairs suddenly went flying.
‘The lady was pinned by the car and her legs were trapped,’ witness Kieran Fox said.
‘She managed to pull herself out a bit so she’s walking wounded.’
As bystanders helped the woman, another witness could be seen telling the driver to reverse his car – who backed off the footpath and drove away.
NSW Police said officers located the man and his vehicle a short time later and took him to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital where he remains under police guard.
Winesses try and get the driver out of the car moments before he crashes it into the cafe ahead
The BMW smashes into the cafe in Sydney’s inner west on Saturday morning
The car was found later after the driver drove away from the scene
The driver is in his 30s and remains under police guard in hospital after fleeing the crash
The driver received oxygen as paramedics loaded him into an ambulance
Baked goods are seen on the ground after a car ploughed into The Cupcake Room
Sean McKeen and Kieran Fox witnessed the horrific crash
A police spokesperson confirmed to Daily Mail that the man had not been arrested or charged as of 2pm on Saturday.
The woman, believed to be aged in her 70s, was treated at the scene by paramedics before she was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in a serious but stable condition.
Sean McKeen was with Mr Fox as they drove behind the BMW driver, waiting to turn from Allen Street onto Norton Street, and noticed he was slumped behind the wheel.
‘It (the car) started to creep across the road so we jumped out and started banging on the window saying ‘wake-up, wake-up’ and there was no response,’ Mr McKeen said.
‘He hit the kerb and jolted awake and accidentally, I’m assuming, he hit the accelerator.’
Mr Fox said he started filming the driver, and told him not to leave the scene.
‘At first we thought it was a medical episode, a heart attack maybe, then it turns out he was [allegedly] asleep or passed out,’ he said.
The driver appeared unconscious and was receiving oxygen as paramedics loaded him into an ambulance shortly after he was located by police.
An investigation into the cause of the crash has commenced.
