Woman arrested after head-on

A woman allegedly assaulted police after a positive breath test following a head-on collision at Freshwater.

Shortly before 4.30pm yesterday afternoon (Wednesday, 27 August), emergency services responded to a report of a head-on collision between a white 2018 Land Rover Discovery and a red 2016 Mazda CX3 at Harbord Road, Freshwater, near Lawrence Street.

Woman arrested after two car collision at Harbord Road, Freshwater

The Land Rover was travelling north, and appears to have crossed onto the wrong side of the road after turning the corner from Lawrence Street, hitting the Mazda, which was heading southbound towards Manly. The front-on collision caused air bags to deploy in both vehicles.

Firefighters from Dee Why Station arrived on scene first, finding the two middle-aged female drivers out of their vehicles. They requested police attend the scene to manage traffic on the busy street, and also resolve an apparent reluctance to exchange details.

NSW Ambulance paramedics assessed the two female drivers for minor injuries, finding the 53-year-old female driver of the Land Rover to be uninjured. The 49-year-old female driver of the Mazda was assessed for a neck injury, and taken to Northern Beaches Hospital in a stable condition.

Both drivers were roadside breath tested by officers attached to Northern Beaches Police Area Command. The 49-year-old driver of the Mazda returned a negative result, but the 53-year-old driver of the Range Rover allegedly returned a positive result.

Police alleged that following the positive result, the woman assaulted a police officer. The woman was seen to behave erratically, and was subdued by officers at the scene and arrested.

She was escorted to a police transport vehicle and taken to Manly Police Station where a further breath analysis was undertaken, and she allegedly returned an alcohol reading of 0.137.

The 53-year-old woman was charged with one count each of:

Driving a motor vehicle with a middle range Prescribed Concentration of Alcohol (PCA)
Assaulting a police officer in the execution of their duty without actual bodily harm

For a first offence, the PCA charge carries a maximum fine of $2,200, up to nine months imprisonment and minimum driver licence disqualification of six months. For assaulting a police officer without causing bodily harm, she faces a term of imprisonment up to five years.

The woman was issued a Court Attendance Notice and released to appear at Manly Local Court on Wednesday, 08 October 2025. Both vehicles were towed from the scene. If found guilty of drink-driving, the woman is likely to become personally liable for the damage to her own vehicle and that of the other woman.

Images: Northern Beaches Advocate