SYDNEY—A woman has died after a car driven by an 89-year-old man ploughed into a cafe at North Epping in Sydney’s northwest.
The 40-year-old woman was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital in a critical condition with stomach injuries but later died.
The incident occurred about 10 a.m. on Friday at the corner of Malton Road and Roma Street, with the car driving into tables outside the cafe.
A dozen ambulance crews attended to treat the woman and nine other victims, with initial reports suggesting at least two victims were pinned.
Four people were taken to hospital, including the woman who later died.
Detective Inspector Mark Christie on Friday said it was a “horrendous and chaotic scene” for emergency services when they arrived.
He told reporters the elderly driver had been taken to hospital for testing and would be interviewed at a later stage.
“It appears he has pulled into the parking spot, and then there’s been some sort of collision after that, but we don’t know the circumstances yet, they’re still under investigation,” Insp Christie said on Friday.
“It’s a very tragic set of circumstances that have occurred here today.”
Police will now prepare a coroner’s report.
NSW Ambulance Superintendent Steve Vaughan labelled the scene “absolutely frantic” and said paramedics did all they could.
“The scene was absolutely frantic for emergency services—there was carnage everywhere when we arrived,” Mr Vaughan said.
