A man will face court after a police car was damaged during a pursuit on the North Coast overnight, NSW Police say.
Just before midnight yesterday, police received several calls from drivers travelling south along the Pacific Highway concerned about the way a gold-coloured Holden Commodore sedan was being driven.
Police sighted the Holden driving on the highway just north of Taree at Oxley Bend Road and observed the driver allegedly swerving in front of trucks and braking unnecessarily.
Officers in a fully-marked police car followed the Holden along the highway and activated their warning devices in an attempt to stop it.
The driver of the Holden allegedly braked suddenly and swerved into the breakdown lane causing the police car to stop in front of it. Just as the officers were attempting to exit their vehicle, the Holden allegedly accelerated and rammed the rear of the police car.
The Holden then drove back onto the highway and accelerated away at high speed. A pursuit was initiated but terminated for safety reasons when the Holden allegedly reached 200km/h in a 110km/h sign posted zone.
About 12.45am today, police located the Holden abandoned near a service station at Rainbow Flat. The driver of the Holden was arrested nearby hiding in grass.
The 26-year-old driver was subjected to a breath test at the scene and allegedly provided a positive result. He was taken to Taree Police Station where he allegedly provided a breath analysis reading of 0.110.
Police will also allege the man damaged a police holding cell while in custody.
The man was charged with police pursuit – not stop (‘Skye’s Law’), drive manner dangerous, mid-range drink driving and malicious damage.
He was refused bail to appear at Taree Local Court today.
