A man pushing his two young toddlers in a pram was struck by a vehicle on Allen Street in Newcastle, leaving his wife deeply shaken and prompting fresh calls for road safety as traffic volumes are expected to rise ahead of the long weekend.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, 29 April 2026, shortly after 1pm, while the family was walking along the busy road towards the Show Grounds.
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Speaking to Newcastillian News, the pedestrian’s wife described the moment of impact:
“We were walking towards the Show Grounds when a woman in an Audi came flying past, hitting my husband. He went over the pram with our children, aged 2 and 3, inside it and they also proceeded to fall outside of the pram.”
Two passers-by quickly came to the family’s assistance, contacting law enforcement and paramedics while ensuring the motorist remained at the scene until police arrived.
However, by the time Newcastillian News reached the location the driver had departed.
Authorities have confirmed that the incident is now subject to further investigation.
A traffic officer at the scene reported that the man sustained moderate injuries.
“Fortunately, neither of the two children were hurt,” the official added.
While ER24 paramedics treated the injured pedestrian, Charles Steyn from Magenta Emergency Services stressed that speed remains a significant factor in incidents of this nature.
“Motorists need to stay within the speed limit, so if they have to slam on brakes or swerve out of the way to miss a person or a pothole, they can do so without causing any danger to themselves or others,” he said.
He further advised pedestrians to avoid walking on the road itself and to remain on the sidewalk, particularly when their backs are turned to oncoming traffic.
With the Newcastle Winter Festival approaching, Steyn urged motorists to exercise greater caution, especially along Allen and Hardwick Streets this weekend due to increased traffic flow.
His appeal was echoed by a bystander on the scene.
“I have lived in Newcastle since 1974, and over the years, I have steadily watched how motorist have become more and more reckless on the road, throwing all care out of the window,” the bystander noted.
This incident serves as a timely reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by pedestrians, particularly families with young children, when sharing busy roads with vehicles.
While the two toddlers escaped unharmed and the father sustained only moderate injuries, the event has highlighted the critical importance of driver awareness and adherence to speed limits.
I feel the parents are also to be blamed here. We see these 2 on the busy roads every day on they’re way to checkers where the lady uses the parking lot to ask people to buy her food or nappies for the kids while the husband stands and waits at the traffic light. She especially targets old people, they don’t look for jobs because its easier for them to just do this everyday. She has been chased out of the property more than once by security. My point is if they look for jobs they will not have to put their kids lives in danger and walk along the busy roads. Also drivers should be more careful when they see pedestrians on the roads. Rather drive around them then to close to them.
Mnr Coetzer you have the wrong family here….we do not stand at robots and beg….
How do you push a pram on that so called sidewalk?
I am worried, because some women driving in our town should should never be allowed to drive vehicles, They can’t even stop and drive an uphill or not even talking about parking their vehicle between parking markings not even speaking of parallel parking. Also both men and woman seating incorrectly, laying down and only their faces above dashboard, just wonder how do they observe around them.
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4 Responses
I feel the parents are also to be blamed here. We see these 2 on the busy roads every day on they’re way to checkers where the lady uses the parking lot to ask people to buy her food or nappies for the kids while the husband stands and waits at the traffic light. She especially targets old people, they don’t look for jobs because its easier for them to just do this everyday. She has been chased out of the property more than once by security. My point is if they look for jobs they will not have to put their kids lives in danger and walk along the busy roads. Also drivers should be more careful when they see pedestrians on the roads. Rather drive around them then to close to them.
Mnr Coetzer you have the wrong family here….we do not stand at robots and beg….
How do you push a pram on that so called sidewalk?
I am worried, because some women driving in our town should should never be allowed to drive vehicles, They can’t even stop and drive an uphill or not even talking about parking their vehicle between parking markings not even speaking of parallel parking. Also both men and woman seating incorrectly, laying down and only their faces above dashboard, just wonder how do they observe around them.