NSW police arrest two after police pursuit at Lake Illawarra

Two men have been arrested following a police pursuit in the state’s Illawarra region overnight.

About 10.40pm on Monday (1 November 2021), officers attached to Lake Illawarra Highway Patrol were conducting stationary random breath tests on the Princes Highway at Dapto, when they attempted to stop the driver of a blue Ford Focus.

The driver allegedly failed to stop as directed and continued along the Princes Highway at speed, before turning onto Emerson Road, where a pursuit was initiated.

The Ford struck a raised median strip at the intersection of Cormack Avenue and the Princes Highway and continued south toward Albion Park Rail.

It will be alleged the car was travelling at 120km/h in an 80km/h signposted area, before the vehicle stopped about 2km south of the Miall Way intersection.

The driver – a 40-year-old man – fled on foot and was arrested a short distance away by officers from the Dog Unit.

The passenger – a 32-year-old Berkley man – who remained in the vehicle, was also arrested.

The driver was taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station and allegedly returned a positive result to a random drug test. The results will undergo further analysis.

Additional checks revealed the man was unlicensed.

The Jamberoo man was charged with police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously, licence expired two years or more before, and drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous.

He was refused bail and is due to appear in Wollongong Local Court today (Tuesday 2 November 2021).

The passenger will be issued a Court Attendance Notice (CAN) for passenger not disclose driver’s identity and will appear at Kiama Local Court at a date yet to be determined.

/Public Release. View in full here.