French Man Found Eating McDonald’s Inside Car After Crashing Into Hyde Park Fountain

A man has been found eating a McDonald’s meal inside a car that crashed into Sydney’s Archibald Fountain in Hyde Park, with NSW Police charging him over the incident.

Police said the crash occurred about 4am on Wednesday 3 June 2026, when a hire SUV reversed into the fountain in Sydney’s CBD and became partially lodged in the structure.

Inspector Anderson Lessing told ABC Radio Sydney that officers arrived to find the driver still inside the vehicle.

“Strangely, he was still eating Macca’s there,” he said.

“Half of it was sticking inside, and half of it was sticking out, with the driver still inside,” he said.

Police allege the 21-year-old French national had been operating a rented vehicle at the time of the incident and was in Australia on a working visa. He was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital for mandatory testing after being assessed at the scene. He allegedly told police he was delivering a food order when the incident occurred. It’s unclear if he was eating the food he was charged with delivering.

He has since been charged with negligent driving, not reversing a vehicle safely and unlicensed driving. He was granted conditional bail and is expected to appear in the Downing Centre Local Court on 15 July 2026.

Authorities said the vehicle had been removed from the fountain following an operation by emergency crews. Police estimate damage to the Archibald Fountain at between $15,000 and $20,000, with no significant structural damage reported.

The Archibald Fountain, a heritage-listed landmark in Hyde Park, was completed in the 1920s and unveiled in 1932.

Inspector Lessing told 702 ABC Sydney the fountain sustained minimal damage.

“There’s scratching and things like that, but no great structural damage to the fountain,” Inspector Lessing said.

Police also said the driver told officers he had been following GPS directions at the time of the crash, which allegedly led him into Hyde Park before the collision.