Highway Patrol officers have charged three women following an alleged pursuit across southwestern NSW and Victoria yesterday.
About 12.40pm (Tuesday 16 January 2026), police attended a home on Namatjira Avenue, Coomealla about 3km west of Dareton, to conduct a search warrant.
On arrival, officers attached to Barrier Police District located a station wagon leaving the scene.
Police directed the vehicle to stop; when the driver allegedly failed to do so a pursuit was initiated.
The pursuit continued south along the Silver City Highway, where the station wagon allegedly reached speeds of 150km/h in a 100km/h speed zone, before the pursuit was terminated.
A short time later, police received a report of the driver allegedly stealing fuel from a service station in Trentham Cliffs, but they left before police arrived.
About 3pm police received a report of the vehicle travelling between Robinvale, Victoria, and Euston, NSW.
Shortly after, officers attached to Barrier Highway Patrol located the station wagon travelling on the Sturt Highway, Euston, where they directed the driver to stop; however, they allegedly failed to do so again, and a pursuit was again initiated.
During the pursuit the vehicle allegedly reached speeds of 180km/h in a 110km/h speed zone before crashing into a vineyard in Monak, about 32km southeast of Mildura.
Following the crash police arrested three women – aged 37, 42 and 21 – before taking them all to Dareton Police Station.
The 37-year-old woman – and alleged driver – was charged with police pursuit - not stop - drive at speed, police pursuit - not stop - drive dangerously, goods in personal custody suspected being stolen (motor vehicle), class A m/v exceed speed more than 45 km/h estimated, drive vehicle under influence of drugs, unlawfully possess number plates, possess vehicle part with altered/defaced part number, never licensed person drive vehicle on road, and goods in personal custody suspected being stolen (not motor vehicle).
The two other women were each charged with be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner, intentionally throw object at vehicle/vessel risk safety, and goods suspected stolen in/on premises (not motor vehicle).
Police will allege in court the car had been stolen from Bundoora, Victoria, on Wednesday 19 November 2025 and contained clothing with an estimated value of $1000.
All three were refused bail to appear before Bail Division Local Court 4 today (Wednesday 7 January 2026).
