A man will face sentencing after causing traffic chaos on Sydney's Harbour Bridge for hours as a stolen SUV he was driving while affected by "ice" caused a fiery three-vehicle accident.
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Peak-hour traffic was stopped for three hours on a busy morning on March 7, 2022 as Christopher Walker was dragged from the wreckage moments before a fireball engulfed his vehicle.
The 20-year-old appeared at Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday where he pleaded guilty to four counts, admitting dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm to fellow driver Andrew Cheng and furious driving causing bodily harm to motorist Kathryn McNamara.
Prior to the joyride, he assaulted 27-year-old Aetzaz Farooq in Haymarket in the Sydney CBD to steal the blue Toyota Kluger.
Walker also pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle while under the influence of methamphetamine, also known as ice, which was detected in his blood.
While driving over the bridge, the SUV flipped after colliding with an oncoming van, which then bounced and crashed into a third vehicle.
Walker, Mr Cheng and Ms McNamara were all taken to hospital.
The Sunnybank Hills man was arrested and charged still in his hospital bed two days after the incident.
On Thursday, crown prosecutor Stella Calderbank said four charges had been withdrawn, including negligent driving, dangerous driving under the influence, causing bodily harm while in control of a motor vehicle, and aggravated assault.
Walker's lawyer Anoj Anastasius told Magistrate Brett Shields that the facts had not yet been agreed between the defence and prosecution.
The parties have until July 27 to resolve this.
The matter will then come back before the Local Court and dates for Walker's sentence will be locked in.
The 20-year-old remains out on bail.
Australian Associated Press
