Narara: Craig Whalen-Johnson back in court over alleged pursuit where highway officer was struck
The driver who was allegedly behind the wheel of a stolen car which struck a Highway Patrol officer on Boxing Day, leaving him with a punctured lung, has returned to court.
Central Coast
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The 24-year-old man charged with allegedly leading police on a high-speed pursuit, which ended when he allegedly struck a Highway Patrol officer who was deploying road spikes, has returned to court.
Craig Whalen-Johnson, of Toronto, faced Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday after he was charged with eight offences including aggravated dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm while escaping pursuit, failing to stop after a collision, using a car as an offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention and driving a stolen car.
It came after police saw a Volkswagen Jetta travelling on the Old Pacific Highway at Somersby about 9am on Boxing Day that had allegedly been stolen from Albury a few days earlier.
A short time later other police saw the Volkswagen at a service station on Manns Rd, West Gosford, where the occupants allegedly filled up with fuel but left without paying.
A pursuit was initiated which continued through a number of suburbs but it was called off because of the alleged dangerous manner of driving.
About 9.20am, a Traffic and Highway Patrol Command officer was hit by the vehicle while deploying road spikes on Narara Valley Drive at Narara.
The Volkswagen was driven a further few hundred metres before the occupants abandoned it on Deane St and fled into nearby bushland.
The 42-year-old senior constable was flown to Royal North Shore Hospital where he was treated for serious leg and facial injuries, fractured ribs and a punctured lung.
Brisbane Water Police conducted an extensive search of the bushland where they were assisted by officers from PolAir, the Dog Unit and Traffic and Highway Patrol.
Two male passengers, aged 19 and 15, were also arrested and taken to Gosford Police Station but released pending further inquiries.
Mr Whalen-Johnson, who police allege was driving the vehicle, was refused bail to appear at Newcastle bail court on December 27 where he was refused bail to reappear on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old did not make an application for bail when he appeared with a Legal Aid solicitor and the matter was adjourned to Gosford Local Court on January 9.
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