Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District are investigating a crash where the driver of vehicle crashed into a unit complex at Shoal Bay, causing severe structural damage to the building.
The crash happened just before 5.00pm on Saturday 3 October 2020. Police received reports of a Toyota Hilux being driven along Shoal Bay Road, Shoal Bay, had collided with the exterior wall of a unit complex.
When nearby residents heard the crash and went to investigate, the driver allegedly reversed into a load-bearing wall of the same unit complex, causing part of the wall to collapse.
Residents of the unit complex managed to self-evacuate without injury or incident.
The vehicle drove off on Shoal Bay Road.
Police later received further reports the same vehicle had crashed into a timber fence at Mistral Close at nearby Nelson Bay.
Officers attended the location and found a 19-year-old man in the driver's seat of the vehicle.
The man was subjected to a breath test, which allegedly returned a positive reading.
He was arrested and taken to Nelson Bay Police Station for the purpose of a breath analysis. While in the police station, the man suffered a medical episode, which required treatment by ambulance officers.
He was taken to Tomaree Hospital for non life-threatening injuries.
As part of the investigation, officers will await the results of a blood sample before taking any formal action against the man.
Fire and Rescue NSW have assessed the damage to the unit wall and have determined that a structural engineer will be needed to conduct a further examination of the wall.
Inquiries are continuing.
