A 29-year-old man has been charged with stealing a semi-trailer and causing "absolute carnage" in the NSW Hunter town of Singleton.
The rig crashed and burst into flames on George Street on Wednesday morning after taking out five cars and damaging buildings including the Royal Hotel and an antique store.
Four people were taken to hospital with one man in a critical condition.
A 67-year-old man suffered head and chest injuries and was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle. He was in a critical but stable condition on Wednesday night.
A 62-year-old woman with pelvic and hip injuries and a 64-year-old man with neck, chest and back pain are both in a stable condition.
The semi-trailer was allegedly stolen by the 29-year-old man from a service station at Murrurundi - more than 100 kilometres away - about 7.30am when the driver was paying for fuel.
Police initiated a pursuit and deployed road spikes as the truck approached Singleton.
The semi continued for a few kilometres after hitting the spikes before colliding with the cars and buildings about 8.45am.
The driver was arrested at the scene and taken to hospital with minor injuries and underwent mandatory tests.
He faces eight charges and has been refused bail to front Singleton Local Court on Thursday.
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