The victims of a car accident following a police pursuit on Warringah Road overnight have described their gratitude to a Northern Beaches paramedic who was first on the scene on her way home from work.
Sam Buchwald, 25 of Killarney Heights, was returning from a party via a Beacon Hill Maccas run just after midnight last night with his younger brother Josh when they were t-bone hit by a car “in a split second”. While suffering a bumped head and whiplash, the pair narrowly missed hitting five poles and suffering major injury from the crash.
Josh went into shock then had a panic attack, with paramedic Georgia, their “angel” providing comfort and first responder checks before ambulance arrived.
“I never got to thank her so Georgia if you read this I can’t tell you how much you being there meant to us. I just wanted to say thank you so much for the comfort.
“Georgie had told us the car passed her doing what seemed like 170kmh down Warringah and she knew she would probably come across them soon, sadly. The police were obviously busy focusing on catching this guy so we were just sitting there in shock. It all just happened in a split second, you know? Out of no where. So having this lady there to check on us was really helpful.”
Edit: We subsequently found Georgia and she was happy for us to share she is Georgia Potter of Dee Why. She has been connected with Sam so he could say thanks.
Sam, an engineer turned creative media agency director, said he was still processing what happened and figuring out what to do without a car as he was not comprehensively insured.
“It was my pride and joy. Obviously I am just happy we are alive.. it really makes you think you gotta live each day, you just never know… but I have no idea how long it might take to get any money for the damage. I’m all open to ideas. I’ve just moved from Killarney to the east so I need to get from a to b for work.”
What went down?
Police have confirmed that just after 12am today (midnight Friday 18 March 2022), officers attached to North Shore Police Area Command attempted to stop a blue Mazda travelling along the Pacific Highway, Roseville.
The driver allegedly failed to stop as directed by police and a pursuit was initiated on Boundary Street.
Police will allege the vehicle continued to Warringah and Currie Roads, Forestville, where it veered right and collided with the rear of a Holden Jackaroo (Sam’s car) travelling in the opposite direction.
The driver fled on foot along Cook Street, Forestville; however, was located a short time later in the front yard of a residential property nearby.
The driver – a 23-year-old man – was arrested and taken to Northern Beaches Hospital for mandatory testing.
He was released from hospital and taken to Manly Police Station where he was charged with police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously, proceed through red traffic light, not give way at lights to oncoming vehicle, not give particulars to other driver, fail to stop and assist after impact cause injury, goods in personal custody suspected being stolen, custody of knife in public place – subsequent offence, and an outstanding warrant.
Sam said there was also a woman in the passenger seat of the allegedly stolen vehicle but this was not referenced in police statements.
The driver was refused bail and appeared at Manly Local Court today, where he was granted conditional bail to reappear before the same court on Wednesday 30 March 2022.
