A driver was allegedly travelling well over the speed limit before crashing into a parked car, killing two people who had stopped to exchange information during a collision on a major Sydney bridge.
Anya Lim, 25, was driving on the Anzac Bridge in the city’s inner west shortly before midnight on December 2022 when she collided with a vehicle driven by Hongyi Zhang, 40, causing both drivers to bail.
Shortly afterwards, Adebb Sukkar, who was on his way to a casino, crashed his car into the back of Ms Lim’s vehicle, crushing her and Mr Zhang between their damaged cars.
Both died from their injuries before paramedics could arrive, while Sukkar injured his right forearm.
The 42-year-old has pleaded not guilty to two counts of dangerous driving causing death and one count of negligent driving causing death, and faces trial in Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court.
Crown prosecutor Gabrielle Steedman said Sukkar was shocked when he realised what had happened during the crash and repeatedly asked: “Where did those two people come from?”
When questioned about his driving, he allegedly told police he was driving within the 60km/h speed limit.
But witnesses saw Sukkar driving much faster, about 30 km/h over the limit, Steedman said.
Adebb Sukkar, who was on his way to a casino, crashed his car into the back of Anya Lim’s vehicle, crushing her and Hongyi Zhang between their damaged cars.
Police analysis of his vehicle found no mechanical defects that would have prevented him from avoiding the crash.
Several witnesses also saw the two victims talking and managed to change lanes to avoid them, Steedman added.
Sukkar’s attorney, Greg Stanton, said it was an unusual case because many of the night’s events were not in dispute.
“The reality of what happened… is stark and confrontational,” he said.
Anya Lim was driving across the Anzac Bridge (pictured) in Sydney shortly before midnight on December 2022 when she collided with a vehicle driven by Hongyi Zhang.
But Mr Stanton argued that the speed at which Sukkar was driving before he saw Ms Lim and Mr Zhang was irrelevant.
Instead, Sukkar should be judged for his actions after he noticed them, she said.
The driver apparently braked before the crash, but not early enough to avoid the fatal collision, the court heard.
The trial continues.