A man suffered serious injuries, including broken limbs, following a frightening head-on collision with a police vehicle in Sydney’s western suburbs.
The incident unfolded when police attempted to conduct a random breath test on a white VW Golf in Dean Park, located in Sydney’s west, at approximately 10:15 p.m. last night. However, the driver failed to comply, prompting a police pursuit.
The high-speed chase involved nearly 10 police cars but was called off when officers lost sight of the vehicle. As of now, the VW Golf and its occupants remain at large.
Shortly after the pursuit was terminated, a marked police car from the Nepean Area Command collided head-on with a Holden sedan on Debrincat Avenue in North St Mary’s.
CCTV footage captured the moment the Holden was struck by the police car as it pulled onto the road.
The impact of the crash was so intense that it drew neighbors out of their homes, rushing to the scene to offer help.
“[I] heard the bang and came out, unfortunately there was somebody in a bad way,” neighbour Rowan Thorpe said.
The 47-year-old driver of the Holden sedan suffered injuries and was taken to Westmead Hospital in a serious but stable condition.
Police later confirmed he had suffered a broken arm and leg.
The 25-year-old male police constable driving the police car and a 25-year-old female senior constable passenger, who was pregnant, were treated by paramedics at the scene and taken to Nepean Hospital.
They have since been released and are believed to be recovering well.
Assistant Commissioner Gavin Wood said the officers involved in the crash were acting on information given to them by the public.
Wood said police were “deeply sorry” for the victim but said it was too early to put the blame for the crash on either party.
He reiterated the pursuit had been called off at the time of the accident.
“The police vehicle itself had received relatively new and contemporary information from a member of the public, and they acted accordingly,” Wood said.
“Their reaction wasn’t [because of] a pursuit per se, they were reacting to the information given to them by members of the public.”
A critical incident investigation into the circumstances of the crash is underway, where the actions of the police will be examined.
