NSW police charge man after police car hit in pursuit at Culcairn

A man is due to appear in Albury Local Court charged after allegedly hitting a police car during a pursuit in the Murray River region yesterday.

An Albury Highway Patrol officer was patrolling the Olympic Highway at Culcairn shortly before 10am yesterday (Wednesday 18 May 2022), when he saw a vehicle allegedly being driven at high speed.

A radar check revealed the vehicle to be travelling at 143km/h in the signposted 100km/h zone.

Police attempted to stop the driver, however, he ignored directions and a pursuit was initiated, with the car allegedly reaching 190km/h.

The pursuit continued to the township of Culcairn where, at the intersection of Balfour Street and the Olympic Highway, the driver allegedly performed a burnout before driving towards and hitting the police sedan.

Police pursued the vehicle south on the Olympic Way where the driver eventually stopped and was arrested at Gerogery without further incident by Highway Patrol and General Duties officers attached to the Murray River Police District.

The driver, a 27-year-old man, was arrested and following a search of the man and vehicle, police seized cannabis, an ‘ice’ pipe, knife, axe and prescription medication.

He was taken to Albury Base Hospital for mandatory testing before returning to Albury Police Station where he was charged with offences, including use weapon (vehicle) to avoid apprehension, drive under influence of a drug, suspended driver, driving unregistered/ uninsured vehicle, possess prohibited drug, police pursuit, and use unauthorised plates.

The man was refused bail to appear in Albury Local Court today (Thursday 19 May 2022).

/Public Release. View in full here.