Motorcyclist arrested on Sydney Harbour Bridge after fatal crash allegedly hit a cop while speeding away from police
A motorcyclist arrested at the scene of a fatal multi-vehicle crash on the Sydney Harbor Bridge allegedly struck an officer while speeding away from police, a court has been told.
Ali Al-Robay, 24, appeared at Downing Center Local Court on Friday charged with 12 driving-related offences, including speeding and three counts of failing to stop when instructed.
The world-famous bridge and busy thoroughfare were closed on Thursday after the horrific six-way crash, which left two men dead and paramedics rushed to treat a number of other injured motorists.
Police claim they were trying to reopen the bridge’s lanes when Al-Robay, riding a black Honda motorcycle, ignored repeated commands from officers to stop filtering through stopped traffic.
As he drove away, Mr Al-Robay was stopped by police managing the crime scene and while under arrest he allegedly attacked both police and transport staff.
The police prosecutor opposed Mr Al-Robay’s release on bail, telling the court that the “issue is one of non-compliance” and that the rider had hit an officer after being told to stop his motorcycle fuses.
βHe comes face to face with a NSW police officer who stepped into the alley he was driving through, (and) the appellant accelerated and hit the officer with his motorcycle,β he alleged.
βWe were extremely lucky that there wasn’t a bigger injury at the time.β
A motorcyclist arrested at the scene of a fatal multi-vehicle crash on the Sydney Harbor Bridge (pictured) allegedly struck a police officer while speeding away from officers
The father of motorcyclist Al-Robay arrives at a court in Sydney on Friday
The prosecutor said that Mr Al-Robay was approached by two transport managers who he allegedly ‘bypassed’ and accelerated to speeds of up to 70 km in a 40 km zone.
He went on to detail the 24-year-old’s criminal and driving history, including multiple sentences for driving while prohibited, breaching P-plater restrictions and a pursuit.
The prosecutor described Mr Al-Robay’s alleged offending as being of an “escalating nature” and said he was someone “who should not be driving a car or cycling, even if he does so all the time.”
Mr Al-Robay’s lawyer, George Thomas, argued that the most recent offense involved speeding and proposed bail conditions including a driving ban and what amounted to a nighttime curfew.
He also told the court that Mr Al-Robay had denied trying to hit the officer who, according to his lawyer, “jumped out in front of the motorcycle”, but admitted he “should have known this could happen”.
‘It was a stupid act and I dare say it was not planned. “He was confronted with a situation where he would not have known what to expect,” his lawyer told the court.
The crash brought traffic to a standstill (pictured) with queues of up to 12km across Sydney
Two people were killed and others were treated for their injuries in Thursday’s horror crash
‘Certainly there was signage to stop… but he (Mr Al-Robay) did not know what to expect and if he made the mistake, it was the mistake of not adhering to that signage.
“Then at some point he saw the massacre and engaged in the activity that refers to… He is a passerby who does not follow directions.”
Mr Al-Robay’s lawyer said the 24-year-old had good prospects for rehabilitation as he was in his final year of studying civil engineering at the University of Technology Sydney and living with his family.
The court was told that a charge of fraud relating to the number plate could be laid, but that he would ultimately not receive a full prison sentence if found guilty or pleads guilty.
In refusing bail, the magistrate said while police said he had shown ‘great remorse’, his traffic history was ‘concerning’ and his alleged actions ‘did not inspire confidence’ that he would comply with bail.
Mr Al-Robay was taken to Day Street police station on Thursday where he was refused bail after being charged with offenses including knowingly driving in a manner endangering others.
He was also charged with driving while suspended, in an unregistered vehicle, uninsured, without paying taxes, while using an unauthorized number plate and ignoring a ‘no trespassing’ sign.