A Corrimal firefighter's excitement over a new car purchase turned to devastation in less than a day, after a reckless driver smashed into his parked vehicle and fled the scene.
A Short-Lived Celebration
Craig Cameron, a 49-year-old firefighter from East Corrimal, had finally found the car he wanted – a Nissan Qashqai. He bought it in Sydney and drove it home on New Year's Eve, looking forward to the year ahead.
His joy was brutally cut short. In the early hours of Thursday, January 1, 2026, before sunrise, an out-of-control driver ploughed into his brand-new car as it was parked on Lake Parade outside his family home.
"He'd owned the car for about 12 hours," a neighbour recounted, capturing the sheer disbelief at the man's rotten luck.
The Brazen Hit-and-Run
The incident was anything but a simple accident. According to Mr Cameron and neighbours, the offending vehicle was driving with its lights off when it spun into his Nissan.
In a move that added insult to injury, the culprits sat at the scene for nearly 20 seconds before speeding away. Neighbours, alerted by the loud crash, gathered on the street to survey the damage.
Then, in a brazen act, the driver returned. "We were standing on the street just looking at the car, the damage, and then the car came back past," Mr Cameron said. "I yelled out 'stop!' and they just drove past."
Frustrated and without the vehicle's license plate number, Mr Cameron jumped into his damaged car and gave chase, but was unable to catch the fleeing ute.
Community Frustration and Police Appeal
Mr Cameron believes the vehicle was a Holden Rodeo dual cab ute, though police have not yet confirmed this detail. He has obtained CCTV footage from a neighbour, but the number plate remains unclear.
The hit-and-run appears to be part of a broader pattern of hoon behaviour in the area that night. The grassed park near the Corrimal Surf Club was torn up by someone performing doughnuts, and Mr Cameron's car was found covered in grass after the collision, leading him to suspect the same driver.
"I've been down and checked, I've checked all the neighbours for cameras," he said, expressing a hope that someone might come forward. "A lot of them have got footage but we can't get a clear view of the number plates."
The financial and emotional toll is significant. "I just hope someone sees the story and has a conscience, because it's going to cost me thousands of dollars," Mr Cameron lamented.
Illawarra Police have confirmed they are investigating the incident. A police spokeswoman stated: "About 5am yesterday, (Thursday 1 January 2026), police were told an unknown vehicle crashed into a parked car in Lake Parade, East Corrimal, before leaving the scene. The parked car was extensively damaged and there were no reports of injuries."
Authorities are urging anyone with information or dashcam footage to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
