A French national who allegedly caused $20,000 worth of damage after crashing a hire car into Sydney's iconic Archibald Fountain was caught "eating Macca's" when police arrived at the scene.
Emergency services responded to reports that a hire car had reversed into Hyde Park's Archibald Fountain shortly around 3am on Wednesday. Officers discovered the SUV stuck on the outer edge of the water feature upon arrival.
They spoke with a 21-year-old man, who allegedly told them he was delivering a food order when the incident occurred. Police say the man is a French national in Australia on a working visa.
He was taken to St Vincent's Hospital to be checked as a precaution and for mandatory testing.
NSW Police Inspector Anderson Lessing told 702 ABC Sydney the brazen driver was "eating Macca's" when police arrived. "Half of (the car) was sticking inside, and half of it was sticking out, with the driver still inside," he said. "Strangely, he was still eating Macca's there."
The man was taken to Day Street police station, where he has now been charged with negligent driving, not reversing the vehicle safely, and unlicensed driving. He has been granted conditional bail to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.
The vehicle has now been removed from the fountain. Police have been told the estimated damage is between $15,000 and $20,000. "There's scratching and things like that, but no great structural damage to the fountain," Inspector Lessing added.
