Car smashed into Sydney Guildford front yard after high-speed police chase

A driver has been arrested after allegedly leading police on a high-speed chase and rolling their car before they were pinned down in a citizen’s arrest.

Youseff Rima, 37, allegedly rolled his Hyundai Tucson SUV after reaching speeds of up to 140km/h in Guildford, western Sydney, at 11pm on Friday.

Rima allegedly attempted to flee on foot after rolling the car before he was tackled to the ground by local Adnan Obeid on Chiswick Road.

He was then arrested by police, charged with drugs, driving and motor vehicle offences and refused bail after fronting Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday.

Police began pursuing Rima after they allegedly saw him run through a red light at the intersection of Guildford Road and Woodville Road. 

‘When the vehicle failed to stop a pursuit was initiated,’ NSW Police said in a statement.

‘The vehicle was pursued into Chiswick Road where it will be alleged that the vehicle reached speeds of up to 140km/h.’

‘A short time later the vehicle collided with a retaining wall at the intersection of Clyde Street and Chiswick Road before crashing into a parked car and then coming to rest on its side.’

Rima’s wrecked vehicle ended up sitting on the footpath in front of the wall it ran into and the crash led to one of the vehicle’s wheels coming off. 

Officers said they abandoned the chase before the crash due to safety concerns. 

The pensioner whose front wall the Hyundai hit said he had just been getting to sleep when there was an enormous bang ‘like thunder’.

As police intervened, Rima allegedly threw a bag of marijuana at them and later allegedly tested positive for being under the influence of drugs.

He was allegedly driving a car with no headlights and his licence had previously been suspended for previous offences.

Youseff Rima was arrested at the scene after allegedly scuffling with a local man who managed to stop him from fleeing

Rima was refused bail in Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday.

In opposing bail the police prosecutor said it was only by good fortune that the main damage was done to property.

‘He is very lucky that he is not facing worse charges in that no members of the public were injured,’ the prosecutor told the court.

‘There is huge risk of endangering the safety of the community (if Rima is released on bail).’

Acting Magistrate John Bailey said: ‘One wonders if he was trying to get up to 200km so that police would stop chasing him.’

Rima denied this.

Rima’s Legal Aid said his driving disqualifications were a long time ago and he had regained a full licence.