Authorities have accused Joel Thickins of colliding with a Mazda and subsequently crashing into four parked vehicles in eastern Sydney.
According to the New South Wales Police, the private equity executive, known for his role at TPG Capital, allegedly drove his BMW into the Mazda before impacting the other cars on a Monday evening.
The police report states that Thickins, 48, declined a breath test at the scene, which was littered with debris, and also refused a subsequent breath analysis after being taken into custody at Paddington Police Station.
Thickins serves as the co-head of TPG Asia, which oversees assets exceeding $23 billion (approximately $32 billion AUD), and has held leadership positions at veterinary company Greencross and funeral service provider InvoCare.
Adam Corcoran, a local resident of York Road in Queens Park, described the incident as “an almighty crash.” He recounted hearing a series of collisions from the driver of a BMW i5, a luxury vehicle priced around $170,000.
“There were multiple bangs, culminating in a significant impact that halted the car’s movement,” Corcoran noted. He observed that two vehicles further up the road had been sideswiped, with one receiving considerable damage that caused it to crash into a parked car.
Overall, three cars were towed from the scene, while others sustained lighter damage. Corcoran mentioned hearing a bystander inquire if the driver was alright, to which the driver responded affirmatively.
Shortly thereafter, police arrived on the scene, with several officers taking statements. Corcoran reported that one officer was instructing the driver to remain in place, noting that the driver appeared to be in satisfactory condition and complied with police directions.
The New South Wales Police Force confirmed that at approximately 7:20 PM on Monday, June 1, officers responded to reports of a crash on York Road, Queens Park. They found a BMW and a Mazda had collided, followed by the BMW allegedly striking four parked vehicles.
The driver, a 48-year-old man, reportedly declined a roadside breath test and was later arrested for a breath analysis, which he also refused. Thickins is scheduled to appear in Waverley Local Court on June 30.
When approached for comments by ABC News, Thickins declined to provide further details about the incident. “No, I’m not commenting,” he stated, and when asked specifically about the allegations regarding the refusal of breath tests, he reiterated his initial response.
Thickins is a significant figure in the private equity sector, where he is involved in high-stakes corporate transactions across Australia. He became the country head for TPG in Australia in 2016 after transitioning from another firm.
TPG Capital, which has been contacted for a statement, holds investments in various companies, including Funlab, known for its bowling centres, mini-golf outlets, and arcade centres, as well as the pet care giant Greencross, which operates Petbarn and the Greencross Vet chain. The firm has previously explored the possibility of a public offering.
It is important to note that TPG Capital is a privately-owned entity and is not affiliated with the telecommunications company of a similar name. Last year, a mix-up by the Australian Securities Exchange mistakenly linked TPG Telecom to a takeover deal involving a tech company, resulting in a stock sell-off that erased $400 million from the telecom’s market value, despite having no connection to the transaction.
