NSW: Two pedestrians struck in Sydney CBD crash

AAP General News (Australia)
08-07-2009
NSW: Two pedestrians struck in Sydney CBD crash

SYDNEY, Aug 7 AAP - Two pedestrians were injured and a cabbie was trapped in his taxi
after a collision with a police van at a busy intersection in Sydney's CBD.

It took firefighters about 40 minutes to free the taxi driver from the wreckage.

The police van was travelling north along Pitt St at low-speed when it was involved
in a collision with the taxi heading east along Park St about 1pm (AEST), police said.

The officers were on their way to an urgent job, and their van's siren and lights were operating.

Both vehicles mounted the kerb outside a fast-food restaurant, but police said it was
unclear which vehicle struck the two women.

A lunch-time crowd gathered at the scene as police cordoned off a section of Pitt St.

A police spokesman said the pedestrians were taken to hospital.

One woman was being checked for spinal damage and an arm fracture, while the other
was being treated for grazes.

Two police officers were also taken to hospital for a routine checkup.

Firefighters freed the taxi driver, who was also taken to hospital. Witnesses said
he was conscious and speaking to paramedics.

Ross Dewhurst,56, of Erskineville, said he was in shock after narrowly avoiding being struck.

He told AAP he was almost pushed into the restaurant for "a burger I didn't want to have".

Vai Sootaga, of Belmore, said one of the injured women appeared to be in her 20s and
was alert and speaking to paramedics.

Petrol had spilled from the cab and emergency authorities worked to clean up the area.

AAP bzs/hn/it

KEYWORD: CAB UPDATE

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