Police are appealing for information after initial inquiries have revealed the serious assault of a truck driver and a suspicious fire in Sydney’s west earlier this year are linked.
At about 4.40pm on May 28, 2021, David Lee, 53, was driving a semi-trailer along Pendock Road, Cranebrook, when rocks were reportedly thrown at his vehicle.
Lee stopped a short distance away and got out, holding a crowbar; however, the people ran off.
He returned to the truck and was approached by approximately six males who were carrying bottles.
As Lee climbed back into the cabin, he was struck to the back of the head with a bottle before being dragged to the ground and further assaulted.
He was repeatedly punched and kicked whilst on the ground before being struck with the crowbar he had been holding.
A witness intervened and the males ran off.
Police attended, and Lee was taken to Nepean Hospital suffering lacerations to his head and body and rib fractures.
Lee received three lacerations to his head, one laceration to his elbow, bruising to his back and a fractured hand, and told 9News he feared for his life.
In a second incident, just before 10.40pm the next day police were called to a temporary Covid-19 testing clinic on Pendock Road and Progress Way, Cranebrook, following reports that it was on fire.
Upon arrival, officers from Nepean Police Area Command found a small temporary demountable structure containing equipment was well alight.
Fire & Rescue NSW attended and extinguished the fire, however the structure and its contents were completely destroyed.
Officers from Nepean Police Area Command have established Strikeforce Childersburb to investigate the incidents which are being treated as linked.
Police are urging anyone who may have witnessed, or has CCTV footage or dashcam footage, of the incidents to contact Nepean Detectives or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.