Woman with children in car chased on highway appears in Taree court

An L-plater allegedly driving high on meth fled from police with four children and a dog in the back, with cops forced to use road spikes on the highway to stop her.

A woman allegedly driving dangerously while high on meth, fled from police with four children and a dog in the back, with cops forced to use road spikes on the highway to stop her near Taree on July 10, 2024.

A woman allegedly driving dangerously while high on meth, fled from police with four children and a dog in the back, with cops forced to use road spikes on the highway to stop her.

About 3.30pm on Wednesday, officers attached to Manning/Great Lakes Police District were patrolling Taree when they attempted to stop a vehicle which was allegedly being driven in a dangerous manner on Barton Street near Bushland Drive.

When the car failed to stop, police started a pursuit but it was terminated a short time later due to safety concerns.

After monitoring the vehicle, police successfully deployed road spikes on the northbound lanes of the Pacific Highway, north of Cundletown.

Taree courthouse

The car did a U-turn and came to a stop in the southbound lanes, where the female driver allegedly ran from the vehicle. She was arrested nearby following a short foot pursuit.

Four children – aged 15, 10 and two children aged two – and a dog, were located uninjured in the abandoned vehicle.

The 34-year-old woman was taken to Taree Police Station, where she was subjected to alcohol and drug tests, which allegedly returned a positive result for methamphetamine. This will undergo further analysis.

The woman was charged with police pursuit - not stop - drive dangerously; abandon children under seven causing danger serious injury; and being a learner not accompanied by driver/police officer/tester.

The woman was refused bail and will appear in Taree Local Court on Thursday.