Overview
- Emergency services were called about 5:20pm Sunday after a car hit a concrete pole then ploughed into patrons in the Royal Hotel Capertee courtyard.
- Seven people were injured, with a 64-year-old man and a 71-year-old woman airlifted to hospital for serious injuries.
- Another woman was taken to hospital with minor injuries, and four others were treated at the scene for minor wounds.
- The 30-year-old driver was uninjured, underwent mandatory testing at Orange Base Hospital, and was charged with negligent driving and two counts of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm; his licence was suspended and he was refused bail to face court Monday.
- It is the second crash at the pub in about two years, and local leaders are urging road widening and a centre barrier on the adjacent highway.