A 66-year-old woman has been hospitalised with serious injuries after a car ploughed into a Balmain cafe on Wednesday afternoon, leaving her trapped beneath the vehicle's front wheel on one of the inner west's busiest streets.
The incident occurred around 2pm on Wednesday, November 11, when a car struck Cafe d'Yvoire on Darling Street in Balmain. The woman, who was outside at the time, became pinned under the car and remained there for a period before emergency services were able to free her.
Victim Treated at Scene Before Transfer to Hospital
Paramedics attended and treated the woman at the scene for hip and leg injuries before she was transported to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in a serious condition. Despite the severity of the collision, the driver, an 87-year-old woman, was physically uninjured. She was nonetheless taken to hospital for mandatory testing, as is standard procedure following such incidents, police confirmed.
A crime scene was established at the location and an investigation is now underway into the circumstances of the crash.
Darling Street Closed as Investigation Continues
Darling Street was closed to traffic near its intersection with Stephen Street following the collision, with diversions put in place to manage the disruption to one of Balmain's main thoroughfares. It is not yet known when the road will fully reopen.
Authorities are urging anyone who witnessed the incident, or who may have captured relevant footage, to come forward. Anyone with CCTV recordings, dashcam vision or mobile phone footage is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
The crash has drawn fresh attention to pedestrian safety along busy inner-west streets, where footpath dining and foot traffic are common features of the neighbourhood. The investigation remains ongoing.
