Wild police chase through Sydney ends in dramatic crash, arrests: video
Two people have been charged after a dramatic, hour-long police chase across Sydney that was broadcast live. WATCH how the pursuit unfolded.
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A car chase that began in the city’s south and wove all the way through to the northern suburbs ended in a crash, with a man and a woman later charged as TV broadcast it live US-style.
The incredible chase began in Bankstown when a white Hyundai Sonata, that police allege was stolen, was being driven at speed along the M5 and M7, on the wrong side of the road through busy suburban Parramatta before ultimately slamming into a traffic light on the Hills Motorway at North Rocks on the stroke of 11am.
At several points in the hour before, NSW Police had pursued the man and woman in the stolen car, before deciding the danger to the public was too great and handing the chase duties over to a PolAir helicopter.
When the 39-year-old man from Glenfield and 37-year-old woman from Ingleburn came to a sudden halt thanks to an immovable traffic light, police were finally able to catch up, and dragged the pair from the car as a captivated TV audience watched on across all major channels.
Overnight, the man was charged with 20 offences including possessing an unregistered firearm in a public place; police pursuit - not stop - drive dangerously; aggravated break and enter; fraud; and stealing.
The woman was charged with six offencess including possessing an unregistered firearm in a public place; aggravated break and enter; and stealing.
They were refused bail and will appear in Parramatta Local Court on Friday.
Police had been searching for the pair since early Thursday morning as part of their investigations into several alleged break-and-enters in the southwest Sydney region.
When the wild ride finally ended, police found a gun, a gel blaster and a large amount of cash in the boot.
Liverpool Police Area Command Superintendent Adam Whyte said when police attempted to pull over the pair in Prestons they sped off, sparking the chaotic pursuit.
“They came across a vehicle that was a suspect vehicle … they followed that vehicle and tried to attempt to pull that vehicle over.
“The vehicle failed to stop and as such a police pursuit was initiated.
“Then that vehicle then went onto the M5 motorway at Casula, at which time it collided with the back of a truck.”
The beaten up sedan then drove between Casula, Liverpool and Milperra, before moving onto the M7.
As PolAir and TV helicopters followed, the car could be seen driving on the grass median strip to overtake cars, as it headed to the city’s north.
The woman could be seen in the live images using her phone as the chase progressed.
Getting off the motorway it then sped into suburbs including Parramatta and North Parramatta, with TV viewers watching on as it veered onto the wrong side of narrow streets as police kept a distance, before crashing.
Three unmarked police cars surrounded the car as the woman, in a white hoodie and black leggings, and the male driver were arrested.
The woman quickly got out of the car before being tackled to the ground by officers and led away into a police vehicle.
Her male counterpart sat handcuffed to a light pole, before also being taken to Ryde Police Station for questioning.
Witness Lauren Pride was driving on Windsor Road in Baulkham Hills when she saw the speeding car and feared it was about to crash into her.
“This car came flying up behind me and I thought it was going to hit me,” Ms Pride said.
“I thought it was going to hit me. I was stopped at the red light, I thought someone was going to get hit. I had about 16 cop cars pass by at the set of lights.”
Steven Roman was crossing North Rocks Road to grab lunch when the white Hyundai “whizzed” past.
“It was very eventful for North Rocks,” he said.
“It was very fast, I barely saw it. That’s why you look before you cross the road.”
Mr Roman said “15 to 20” police cars chased after the stolen vehicle before it crashed into a set of street lights.
“It sounded like a really loud thud,” he said.
“The school is right there. It’s something that doesn’t normally happen. It’s fairly quiet here.
“I’m glad my light wasn’t green. That’s a scary thought.”
Having watched the car chase streamed live on their TV, many social media users were quick to compare the incident to similar ones that are often seen in the United States.
“This is American stuff, I’ve never seen this happen her before,” one person said.
“Is this Australia, or the US?” another commenter wrote.
“Amateur hour! Came unstuck with a telegraph pole,” one viewer wrote.
Other viewers praised the efforts of NSW Police, saying it was “awesome work”.
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