A man who survived a spectacular crash on the Princes Highway at Dunmore is accused of assaulting police who responded to the accident.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Andrew Hinkley was one of two men to emerge from the wreckage of a blue Mazda ute about 6pm Monday, after it came unstuck and flipped from the northbound to the southbound lanes.
A southbound driver, James Birkett, was travelling at 100km/h when the out-of-control ute tumbled into his path, forcing him to brake.
"I saw a cloud of dust then saw the car come across the the middle of the highway and flipped in front of me," he said.
"I managed to stop within about 20 metres of the [ute].
"Once they crashed they tried to flip their car back onto its wheels just with their hands, and tried picking up all their belongings.
"There were also two dogs in the car at the time. The dogs are okay, as far as I know."
The ute came to rest on its side, a short distance under the Riverside Drive overpass.
Police allege Hinkley, 47, of Nowra, became aggressive as they went to speak to him. He allegedly tried to hit a male senior constable multiple times, and made repeated threats towards an officer.
Police searched the ute and found cash, drugs and a knife, which were seized for forensic examination.
Hinkley was arrested and taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station, where he was charged with assault officer in execution of duty, possess prohibited drug, custody of knife in public place, intimidate police officer in execution of duty, resist officer in execution of duty, recklessly deal with proceeds of crime and goods in personal custody suspected being stolen.
He was refused bail to appear in Wollongong Local Court today, where Magistrate Susan McGowan agree to release him on strict conditional bail.
It is unclear which of the men was driving the ute when it ran out of control; police inquiries into the cicumstances surrounding the crash are continuing.
It is a condition of his bail that he report daily to Nowra Police. He must also abstain from drugs and alcohol.
The matter returns to court February 2.