Covid positive teen caught after pursuit near Gundagai

A teen in isolation under guard at Wagga Base Hospital - one of the first two cases in Wagga - after testing positive to Covid following after a police chase in regional NSW. Multiple police officers have also been forced into isolation.

Two Sydney teenagers have tested positive to Covid after they were allegedly caught in a stolen vehicle and involved in a police pursuit near Gundagai on Tuesday afternoon.

An 18-year-old Dapto man is currently in isolation at Wagga Base Hospital after he tested positive to Covid after he was arrested.

A NSW Police spokesman confirmed multiple police officers are also currently self-isolating after they were involved in the police pursuit.

Officers attached to the Riverina Traffic and Highway Patrol Command stopped a silver Mitsubishi sedan on the Hume Highway, just near Gundagai, after checks revealed the license plates stolen about 10am on Tuesday.

An 18-year-old is in isolation at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital after a police pursuit.

When officers approached the vehicle, the teen allegedly accelerated away.

A pursuit continued along the highway before the sedan drove through a paddock, and crashed into a street sign near the Dog on the Tucker Box monument.

The teen and his 16-year-old female passenger were arrested and taken to Gundagai Hospital for observations before being transferred to Wagga no one was seriously injured.

Police investigations revealed the car was allegedly stolen from Dapto, near Wollongong on September 24.

A NSW police spokesman confirmed the two teenagers have both tested positive to Covid.

“Subsequently police were advised that both teenagers have since tested positive to Covid-19,” the spokesman said.

“A number of officers are currently self-isolating in accordance with NSW Health guidelines.”

The teens are the first cases of Covid to be recorded in the region after the Murrumbidgee Local Health District confirmed they were being cared for at Wagga Base Hospital.

“They will be reported in the NSW Health numbers tomorrow (Thursday),” a spokesperson said.

“Both cases are from outside of the Murrumbidgee region.”

The chase ended after the allegedly stolen car crashed into a sign near the Dog on the Tuckerbox monument.

Officers searched the sedan and allegedly found three knives and number plates, including one pair not belonging to the vehicle.

He has been charged with 14 offences including police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously, drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous, use class A vehicle displaying misleading etc number-plate, resist officer in execution of duty, and custody of knife in public place.

The 18-year-old has also been charged with leave Greater Sydney for prescribed purposes without permit, and not comply with noticed direction re s 7/8/9 – COVID-19.
The Dapto man was refused bail to appear in Goulburn Local Court on October 13.
The 16-year-old female will be dealt with under the Youth Offenders Act.