Exclusive CCTV footage has captured a terrifying incident where an SUV mounted the footpath outside a crowded nightclub on Adelaide's Currie Street, forcing pedestrians to leap out of the way to avoid being struck.
Driver Accused of Endangering Lives While on Bail
The driver, identified by police as 30-year-old Northfield resident Ali Naderi, was already on bail at the time of the alleged offence last Saturday night. He now faces multiple serious charges, including four counts of endangering life and one count of driving at a dangerous speed.
Magistrate Highlights Poor Bail Compliance History
During Naderi's bail hearing, Magistrate Ben Sale revealed the accused has a lengthy criminal history spanning 27 pages, which includes prior drug trafficking offences. The magistrate expressed strong concerns about releasing Naderi back into the community.
"Your client has a very poor history of compliance with bail," Magistrate Sale stated. "I'm not prepared to release someone into the community who's already on bail and is accused of putting people's lives at risk."
Defence Claims No Contact Made
Naderi's lawyer, Tim Clarke, argued in court that his client did not come close to actually striking any pedestrians during the incident. However, police documents paint a different picture of the events.
Signs of Intoxication Reported
Court documents state that when police encountered Naderi following the incident, he displayed multiple signs of intoxication. Officers reported he had glassy, bloodshot eyes, was unsteady on his feet, and smelled strongly of alcohol. Naderi reportedly told police he could not remember what had occurred.
"If they hadn't got out of the way, they would have been gravely injured," Magistrate Sale remarked about the pedestrians who narrowly avoided being hit.
Case Continues with CCTV Review
The magistrate has given Naderi the opportunity to decide whether he wants the court to view the CCTV footage of the incident as part of the proceedings. The case is scheduled to return to court on Wednesday for further hearing.
The frightening footage shows the SUV mounting the footpath twice, with groups of people scrambling to safety on both occasions before the vehicle sped away from the scene.
