A man who is allegedly responsible for the deaths of two people in a fatal collision on the Anzac Bridge earlier this month was stopped by police days earlier for speeding while overtaking, a court has heard.
Adeeb Sukkar, 41, appeared via at the Sydney Downing Centre Court on Monday via videolink to ask to be released from jail after spending two weeks behind bars on remand.
Police claim he was behind the wheel of a silver Holden Commodore when he crashed into a parked car near the exit ramp of the Western Distributor.
Police believe Anya Pok Yin Lam, 25, and Hongyi Zhang, 38, had parked their cars on the bridge to exchange details after a minor crash on December 2.
Sukkar was allegedly pulled over for speeding days before the fatal Anzac Bridge crash
They were standing on the side of the road just before midnight when one of their stationary cars was hit.
The stationary car then hit the Lidcombe woman and Hurstville man while they stood on the road and they were both killed.
The force of the collision also pushed one of the parked cars into a third lane, where police say it collided with a taxi driven by a 24-year-old man.
Mr Sukkar was treated for his injuries at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and underwent mandatory drug and alcohol testing early on Saturday morning. The court heard blood and urine tests didn’t detect alcohol or drugs in his system.
Anya Pok Yin Lam and Hongyi Zhang had stopped to exchange details when a third car crashed into them
Two people died in the horror smash in Pyrmont, that also saw two other drivers sent to hospital
Police allege he was driving dangerously at the time of the fatal crash on one of Sydney’s busiest roadways.
The 41-year-old is facing two counts of dangerous driving occasioning death and negligent driving occasioning death.
On Monday, the court heard Mr Sukkar had been stopped by police in the same location for the same dangerous manner of driving just days before the fatal collision.
A crash investigator told the court CCTV showed the 41-year-old speeding along the bridge at 98km/hr through the 60km/hr zone.
He said police chased after Mr Sukkar, reaching a speed of 110km/hr, and stopped him because of ‘an overtaking manoeuvre that was conducted’.
The driver had allegedly been speeding when he overtook a car and changed lanes, which mirrored his alleged driving on the day of the fatal crash when he didn’t see the parked cars.
‘It’s the exact same circumstances in the same location,’ the senior constable said.
Mr Sukkar was cautioned about his speed but wasn’t charged over his driving on November 22. The court heard police are still investigating the incident and charges may be laid.
‘Within days he’s continued his manner of driving,’ the police prosecutor noted.
A taxi also became involved in the crash, police said. The man and woman, who had been standing on the roadside, died at the scene. Picture: OnScene Bondi
The court heard the 41-year-old was on bail for drug charges at the time of the fatal collision on the Anzac Bridge earlier this month.
Police allege they busted the Burwood resident supplying less than 10g of meth at 10.45am on September 2 in Redfern. He also allegedly had 0.75g of the drug and $950 in his possession when he was arrested.
Court documents reveal he is facing two counts of supplying meth, a count of possessing meth, and dealing with $950 that police suspect is proceeds of a crime.
Other than the active charges, the court heard Mr Sukkar didn’t have a criminal history.
‘The strength of the prosecution’s case is overwhelming,’ police prosecutor Kerry-Ann McKinnon said.
Anzac Bridge, in Sydney’s inner west, was the site of the fatal incident
She explained it was ‘inevitable’ that Mr Sukkar would serve a full time custodial sentence for the charges if convicted.
‘He’s taken the lives of two people because of his actions and his inactions,’ Ms McKinnon argued.
Magistrate Rodney Brender agreed the prosecution case was strong and Mr Sukkar was facing jail time.
However, he determined the risk of reoffending could be mitigated by ensuring the Burwood resident didn’t occupy the driver’s seat of a car.
‘If he’s not driving, the community should be pretty safe,’ the magistrate said.
‘It’s very important he stays off the road.’
Mr Sukkar was granted bail with conditions ensuring he resides at his home and reports to police three times a week.