Pub Horror: Seven Innocent Patrons Injured as Car Crashes into Hotel Courtyard in Notorious NSW Black Spot
- A 30-year-old driver has been charged with negligent driving and two counts of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm after a car smashed into the Royal Hotel Capertee
- Seven people were injured, including a 64-year-old man and 71-year-old woman who were flown to hospital with serious injuries
- The incident has sparked calls for urgent safety improvements to the notorious road, which has claimed another victim in a terrifying crash
Panic erupted at the Royal Hotel Capertee on Sunday evening as a car careered out of control and slammed into the pub’s courtyard, leaving a trail of destruction and chaos in its wake. The shocking incident, which has left seven people injured, has once again highlighted the dangers of the notorious road that runs adjacent to the hotel.
“It’s just a miracle no one was killed,” said Graeme Pike, president of the Capertee and District Progress Association, as he surveyed the damage. “Capertee is a small bit of road between the long bit of the Castlereagh Highway. People either don’t see the speed signs or don’t care.”
The car, driven by a 30-year-old man, smashed into a concrete pole before hitting several patrons in the courtyard. A 64-year-old man and 71-year-old woman were treated at the scene for serious injuries before being flown to hospital. Another female patron was treated for minor injuries before also being taken to hospital, while four other patrons were treated by paramedics at the scene.
In a heartbreaking development, the 30-year-old driver was not injured in the crash, but has since been charged with negligent driving and two counts of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm. His licence was suspended, and he was refused bail to appear before court on Monday.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage and calls for urgent safety improvements to be made to the road. Mr Pike has demanded that the road be widened and a centre barrier installed to prevent further accidents. “This is the second accident for the Capertee pub where someone has missed the bend and gone straight through,” he said. “It’s just a matter of time before someone is killed.”
The hotel has been left shaken by the incident, but staff are determined to bounce back. “We’re just grateful that no one was killed,” said a hotel spokesperson. “We’ll be working closely with authorities to ensure that something like this never happens again.”