A 21-year-old French man crashed his SUV by reversing into the Archibald Fountain in Sydney’s Hyde Park in the early hours of June 3 while eating McDonald’s food, police said. [1, 2]
The vehicle’s rear wheels became stuck in the fountain’s pool, with the rest of the SUV propped on the stone sidewall. Police Inspector Anderson Lessing described the scene: "Half of it was sticking inside, and half it was sticking out, with the driver still inside." [1, 2]
Officers detained the man while he was still eating his McDonald’s meal. He was uninjured in the crash but was charged with negligent driving. [1, 2]
The driver told police he believed he was delivering a food order when the crash happened. [1, 2]
The damage to the vehicle and fountain was estimated at at least A$15,000, with some sources converting the sum to S$13,800 and others to US$10,700. [1, 2]
The unusual incident drew attention for the driver’s casual behavior even as his vehicle was lodged in the historic fountain. The next legal step involves court proceedings on the charge of negligent driving.