Joel Thickins, the co-head of Texas Pacific Group (TPG) Asia, has been arrested after allegedly crashing his $170,000 BMW into five cars in Sydney and refusing two breath tests. The incident occurred on Monday night in Paddington, in Sydney's eastern suburbs.
Crash Details
Police allege that Thickins, 48, first struck a Mazda before colliding with four parked cars. He reportedly refused a roadside breath test and a subsequent breath analysis after being taken to Paddington Police Station. The New South Wales Police confirmed that officers responded to York Road, Queens Park, at around 7:20 pm on June 1, 2026, following reports of a crash.
Witness Account
A witness described the incident as an "almighty crash." Adam Corcoran told the ABC that he heard a passerby ask the driver if he was okay, to which Thickins replied, "Yeah, I'm OK." Corcoran noted that multiple police officers were taking statements, and the driver appeared to be cooperating. Three of the six vehicles involved had to be towed from the scene.
Background on Thickins
Thickins joined TPG Capital in 2016 and manages over $32 billion in assets across Australia and Asia. He gained attention in 2017 for a $2.87 billion bid for Fairfax Media and later appeared before a Senate committee regarding the future of journalism. TPG Capital, founded in San Francisco, owns Australian businesses such as Greencross Vets, Pet Barn, and Novatech.
Legal Proceedings
Thickins has been charged with negligent driving and refusing or failing to submit to a breath analysis. He is scheduled to appear at Waverly Local Court on June 30. News.com.au has contacted TPG Asia for comment.
