Major investigation into police and a driver's actions in pursuit and fatal crash in Western Sydney
A major investigation is underway into the actions of NSW Police and a driver who died following a pursuit in Western Sydney.
The man’s car crashed, splitting in two moments after police called off their chase.
The man was wanted for not stopping at a Random Breath Test, but what was meant to be a simple and routine stop ended in tragedy.
The Mitsubishi Magna was torn apart, each half flung down the road after hitting a tree.
The same officers the man was trying to avoid were then tasked with trying to save his life.
"I've just come up the Great Western Highway just off the M4. We've got a crash,” an officer said over police radio.
“I'd say it's just gonna be this car and it's gonna be a fatal.”
And it was. The 35-year-old was pronounced dead at Nepean Hospital despite the desperate attempts of emergency services to keep him alive.
The reality of what had just happened immediately sank in with officers who bravely tried to stop him.
The incident played on out on police radio, one officer saying “he's rammed three police cars, radio”.
"North West Metro, I've just ah, destroyed the car,” another officer confirmed.
The pursuit started at 10.13pm Saturday night at Lapstone at the bottom of the Blue Mountains when the driver refused to stop for an RBT.
He then headed down Governors Drive before doing circuits on side streets as police laid out road spikes. But police then backed off.
The Magna raced north, the driver unable to shake his pursuers.
Officers were then warned of danger ahead, with an officer saying “he's just gone the wrong way down the motorway”.
The call was made: “Highway Cars: you are to terminate immediately, thanks.”
Officers replied: "Acknowledge. Pursuit terminated."
But the Magna kept going, hitting the tree.
NSW Police have launched what they call a Critical Incident Investigation, in which every aspect of the officers' actions will be examined with the findings handed to a coroner, who will make the final ruling.
Police believe they know the victim's identity but are yet to have it confirmed.
Assistant Police Commissioner Mark Jones said it was “a very sad event”.
“Something of course police hate at any given time particularly with this Christmas period around.
“A very sad state of affairs,” he said.
No officers were physically injured, but mentally – some will bear the scars of what is described as just another night in the blue uniform.
