Chaos in Sydney’s CBD after alleged carjacking, crash outside Queen Victoria Building

A man has been arrested after allegedly carjacking a vehicle in Sydney’s CBD and driving erratically down George Street before hitting a pedestrian and crashing into a police car in front of stunned Thursday-night shoppers.

The 36-year-old man appeared covered in blood and was wearing only his underwear when he was arrested outside the Queen Victoria Building about 9pm on Thursday.

Police allege the man bundled a woman aged in her 20s out of her Mazda sedan at the intersection of King and Pitt streets in Sydney’s CBD, then drove along George Street before crashing into a ride-share vehicle near the intersection of Market Street.

The vehicle then allegedly crashed into a marked police car parked near the light rail tracks at the Queen Victoria Building. Footage from the scene shows the Mazda crashed head-on with the vehicle, next to the light rail stop, while the man was treated by police and paramedics on the nearby footpath.

Police allege the Mazda also struck a woman in her 50s who was walking along Market Street at the time. The woman suffered head injuries and was hospitalised in a stable condition.

The alleged carjacker was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital under police guard. Police are investigating whether he was affected by drugs at the time of the crash.

The scene stunned onlookers returning home from work and late-night shopping. The man is expected to be charged over the carjacking in the coming hours, once he is discharged from hospital.

The police car parked on George Street is regularly stationed by the QVB for officers conducting proactive patrols, who are tasked with assisting the flow of traffic in the busy pedestrian area.

The scene has been cleared, and the light rail is running at normal servicing on Friday morning.

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