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SYDNEY - A man is free on bail after being charged with throwing a rock on to a car from a New South Wales highway overpass, critically injuring a 22-year-old passenger.
Surgeons have removed part of Nicole Miller's skull and she remains in an induced coma as a result of the injuries she suffered when the rock smashed through the rear left window of the vehicle.
A 25-year-old man will face court next month charged with maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm as a result of the incident on the Princes Highway at Kiama, in southern NSW, on Sunday.
Wollongong Police Sergeant John Klepczarek denied media reports the man was only granted police bail because of a lack of space in the region's police watch-house. However, Premier Morris Iemma said he would seek a briefing from NSW Attorney-General John Hatzistergos over the granting of bail.
"I'm deeply distressed and disturbed by this incident," Iemma told reporters.
"It appears that ... the alleged perpetrator was not a young person or a juvenile who might not have been mature enough.
"Leaving aside whether this person is guilty or not, an incident of throwing a rock off a bridge that straddles a road or motorway, leaving aside individuals concerned, is an act of gross irresponsibility.
"We've seen the consequences of this sort of behaviour in this terrible accident."
Opposition police spokesman Mike Gallacher said it was time for the Government to get tough on bail.
"This is yet just another example ... of how our bail system has failed to meet community expectations, let alone the expectations of the family of the victim," he told Macquarie radio.
Klepczarek said the incident had struck a nerve in the community, and this had aided in the police investigation.
"Because it is so cowardly, you don't see it coming, you can't defend yourself against it and it could happen to anybody. Unfortunately, it does happen from time to time around the state ... People think: 'I'll throw a couple of rocks, make some noise', but if it does hit, the ramifications are quite serious."
Miller was a passenger in a Holden Astra that was struck by rocks about 3.15am local time, moments after it passed the Riverside Drive overpass on the highway.
One of the rocks broke the car's window and Miller, who was returning with friends from a night out in Wollongong, was hit in the head.
"The young woman is still in an induced coma in a critical condition with family and friends by her side," Klepczarek said.
Acting on community information, police arrested a 25-year-old man. He was granted conditional bail and is expected to appear in Wollongong Local Court on August 21.
Two 19-year-old men were also interviewed about the incident.
- AAP
