A man has been arrested following an alleged armed carjacking and pursuit in the state's central west this morning.
About 7.30am (Tuesday 31 March 2026), police were called to a service station on Church Street, near Gladstone Street, Mudgee, following reports of an armed robbery.
Officers attached to Orana Mid Western Police District attended and were told an unknown man had threatened the service station attendant with a knife before demanding cash and car keys.
When the man was unable to steal the car, he left the scene on foot before allegedly entering a home on Loy Avenue and threatening the residents with a knife – a man in his 90s and a woman in her 80s – before stealing car keys from the man and driving from the scene in their car – a Hyundai Santa Fe.
No injuries were reported during either incident.
Police established crime scenes at both locations with Orana Mid Western detectives commencing an investigation into the incident.
Following extensive inquiries, about 10.05am (Tuesday 31 March 2026), police located the vehicle travelling on Herbert Street, Gulgong.
When the driver allegedly failed to stop as directed, a pursuit was initiated.
The pursuit continued through Gulgong onto Guntawang Road towards Mudgee, when the vehicle allegedly turned around and travelled back towards Gulgong, before crashing into a stationary NSW Ambulance vehicle and another vehicle that had both pulled off Guntawang Road, near Magpie Lane.
The Hyundai Santa Fe then collided with a nearby tree.
NSW Ambulance paramedics assisted the four occupants of the ambulance vehicle – three NSW Ambulance paramedics and a patient – two of which suffered minor injuries.
Police arrested the driver – a 35-year-old man – before he was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics and then taken to Dubbo Hospital in a stable condition for further treatment.
Inquiries are ongoing.
