Driver Adebb Sukkar on his way to Sydney casino allegedly well over the speed limit when he slammed into a car and killed two people on the Anzac Bridge, court hears
A driver was reportedly driving well over the speed limit when he crashed into a parked car, killing two people who had stopped to exchange information about a crash on a major Sydney bridge.
Anya Lim, 25, was driving on the Anzac Bridge in the city’s west shortly before midnight in December 2022 when she collided with a vehicle driven by Hongyi Zhang, 40. Both drivers got out.
Shortly afterwards, Adebb Sukkar, who was on his way to a casino, rammed his car into the back of Ms Lim’s car, crushing both her and Mr Zhang between their damaged cars.
Both died of their injuries before emergency services arrived, while Sukkar injured his right forearm.
The 42-year-old has pleaded not guilty to two charges of dangerous driving causing death and one charge of careless driving causing death. He will now appear in Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court.
Prosecutor Gabrielle Steedman said Sukkar was shocked when he realised what had happened in the crash. He repeatedly asked himself: ‘Where did those two people come from?’
When asked about his driving, he reportedly told police that he was not adhering to the 60 km/h speed limit.
However, witnesses saw Sukkar driving much faster, almost 30 km/h over the speed limit, Steedman said.
Adebb Sukkar, who was on his way to a casino, rammed his car into the back of Anya Lim’s vehicle, crushing her and Hongyi Zhang between their damaged cars
An analysis of his vehicle by police found there were no mechanical defects that would have prevented him from avoiding the crash.
Several witnesses saw the two victims talking and managed to change lanes to avoid them, Ms Steedman added.
Sukkar’s attorney, Greg Stanton, said it was an unusual case because many of the events of that night were not in dispute.
“The reality of what happened … is harsh and confronting,” he said.
Anya Lim was driving on the Anzac Bridge (pictured) in Sydney shortly before midnight in December 2022 when she collided with a vehicle driven by Hongyi Zhang
But Mr Stanton argued that the speed at which Sukkar was driving before he saw Ms Lim and Mr Zhang was irrelevant.
Sukkar said he should be judged for his actions after he noticed them.
The court ruled that the driver had braked before the crash, but not in time to avoid a fatal collision.
The process continues.