A man has been charged with 10 offences following a fail to stop crash and an unrelated pursuit in the State’s north-west.
About 9:30pm on 16 March 2024, the keys to a Holden Colorado utility were stolen during an aggravated break and enter in Gunnedah.
That vehicle was driven to Tamworth, where about 11.35pm that night, the vehicle was involved in a crash with the 30-year-old male rider of an electric scooter on Jean Street at Tamworth. The rider sustained serious head and leg injuries and was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital for further treatment.
It will be alleged in Court that later that night, the vehicle was used to steal a KTM motorcycle at Nemingha, east of Tamworth.
Two men disturbed the thieves and as the vehicle drove off, the motorcycle fell off the back of the utility.
A short time later, police attempted to stop the driver of the utility on the New England Highway near Tamworth. When the driver failed to stop, police initiated a pursuit. Due to safety concerns, that pursuit was terminated a short time later.
Around midnight, the driver of the utility drove past a crime scene area, which had been established by police in regard to the earlier fail to stop crash on Jean Street at Tamworth.
It will be further alleged in Court that the driver of the utility drove around a police vehicle parked in the middle of Willis Street and commenced to spin its tyres and drift sideways and accelerated harshly through the crime scene, driving over physical evidence from the earlier crash.
Police at the crime scene had to jump out of the way of the vehicle to avoid being struck as it drove at a speed in excess of the signposted 50km/h speed limit.
A short time later, police were called to Cossa Street at Tamworth, where the Holden Utility had been set alight. The vehicle was completely destroyed by fire and was extinguished by officers from Fire and Rescue NSW.
Following an investigation by detectives from Oxley Police District and the Crash Investigation Unit, a 19-year-old man was arrested at Gunnedah Police Station about 12.25pm today (Friday 22 March 2024).
The man was charged with ten offences
- Break enter and steal – two counts
- Steal motor vehicle
- Learner unaccompanied by licensed driver
- Dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm – drive manner dangerous
- Negligent driving – occasions grievous bodily harm
- Fail to stop and assist after vehicle impact causing grievous bodily harm
- Police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously
- Drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous
- Damage property by fire/explosive.
The man was refused bail to appear at Tamworth Local Court tomorrow (Saturday 23 March 2024).
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
