Hundreds of people evacuated after stolen car crashes into unit block in Merrylands, Sydney

A suspected stolen car crashed into an apartment complex and then caught fire, forcing the evacuation of more than 250 residents in the middle of the night.

The Toyota RAV4 crashed into the ground floor of a building in Merrylands, in Sydney’s west, at around 2.45am on Thursday.

The vehicle caught fire and emergency services rushed to the scene of the accident.

The fire brigade fought the fire and were able to extinguish it without damaging the building.

The residents of the apartment complex were awakened by a fire alarm and had to remain outside the building until the flames were extinguished.

The car crashed into the building in Merrylands, in Sydney’s west, at about 2.45am on Thursday before catching fire

They were able to get back inside and there were no injuries.

NSW Police are investigating the incident and are treating the fire as suspicious. The driver of the Toyota is still at large.

The car is believed to have been stolen last Sunday in Moorebank, about 30 minutes south of Merrylands

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

More than 250 residents of the western Sydney block were evacuated in the middle of the night

More than 250 residents of the western Sydney block were evacuated in the middle of the night