NRL rising star Sandon Smith learns fate over car accident that resulted in victim’s toes being amputated

Rising Sydney Roosters playmaker Sandon Smith has avoided a conviction over his role in a car accident that resulted in a pedestrian having two toes amputated. The 22-year-old halfback faced Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court for sentencing on Friday after pleading guilty to a serious driving offence relating to the March 31 incident that was described by his lawyer as “freak, one-off accident”. The court was told Smith was involved in the accident after he inched out of his driveway at Vaucluse in Sydney’s east and ended with a parked car being pushed onto the foot of a man who suffered serious injuries. Last month, Smith pleaded guilty to one count of negligent driving causing grievous bodily harm. His solicitor David Newham tendered character references from Roosters chairman Nick Politis and coach Trent Robinson and told the court that Smith was acting like many would have done, describing the incident as a “very sad chain of events”. The court was also told that Smith had completed a traffic offenders program and twice apologised to the victim – once when he saw him on the street before using his connections at the Roosters to reach out to the victim’s wife. Magistrate Scott Nash described Smith’s culpability as low and said while the victim’s injuries were serious, he declined against recording a conviction. According to a set of police facts tendered to the court, Smith was attempting to inch his way out of a driveway on Old South Head Rd at Vaucluse on the morning of March 13 on his way to training. At the time, his view to the right was obstructed by parked cars and he “continually edged” his vehicle to “gain a clear view of the oncoming traffic”. At the same time, a Toyota Kluger was driving along Old South Head Rd when the female driver suddenly noticed Smith’s vehicle “appear in front of two parked vehicles and merge into her lane”, according to the court documents seen by NewsWire. The female driver attempted to brake; however, she collided with the front of Smith’s car. At the same time, a 38-year-old man was on the outside of his parked car and attempting to get his son out of the rear door. The man’s vehicle was bumped forward, according to the police facts, pushing the wheel onto his right foot and leaving it wedged between the tyre and the kerb. The court was told that upon hearing the man screaming, Smith rushed to his aid and was one of several people who freed him by lifting the car off his foot. As a result of his injuries, the man underwent several rounds of surgery and his little toe had to be amputated, according to the police facts. The court was also told he subsequently had a second toe amputated. He also suffered further fractures in his fibular and right foot. According to court documents, the man continues to see a psychiatrist, physiotherapist and pain specialist for his injuries and may need further surgeries. In his character reference, Mr Politis said Smith had “expressed to me his deep remorse for the accident which resulted in the serious injury to a man’s foot. “Although there was never any intention to cause such a situation, he understands the gravity of the charge ... He carries as heavy burden knowing how this man has suffered as a result. Mr Robinson said: “I believe that this experience will serve as a lesson he will learn from and that he will grow into an even more conscientious individual. Police prosecutor Adrian Walsh asked that a conviction be recorded. . He said while it was a “series of most unfortunate events”, he also noted the long-lasting adverse impacts on the victim, who currently remains unable to work. Mr Nash said he “can’t ignore” the man’s serious injuries however he took into account Smith’s clean criminal record and his low culpability given his efforts to avoid an accident by slowly inching out his driveway. On Friday, Smith was handed a two-year conditional release order. “This was a terrible, freakish accident that Mr Smith feels terrible about,” Mr Newhman said outside court. “There was no recklessness whatsoever involved and he’s apologised profusely to the gentleman involved.” Smith made his Roosters debut in 2023 and was a feature of their NRL side this year, including their finals run. He is expected to start in the halves next year following Luke Keary’s move to the Super League and Sam Walker’s ACL injury.