Teenage boy Kallen Murray killed in crash during police pursuit in state’s west

A major investigation is underway after a teenager in a stolen car died during a police chase in the state’s central west.

A teenager from country NSW was well-known to police before he died in a high-speed police chase in an allegedly stolen vehicle, with one of his mates now urging kids to stop stealing cars, fearing another of their friends could soon end up dead.

Seventeen-year-old Kallan Murray and three other boys, aged 16, 14 and 13, were involved in a major crash in the early hours of Friday morning, after police claim they stole a Toyota LandCruiser earlier that night, leading police on a wild chase that stretched over more than 340 kilometres.

Kallan Murray, 17, died in a police pursuit on February 28, 2025 at Bourke. Picture: Supplied

The Telegraph understands one of the three younger boys involved in the deadly collision was on bail at the time.

Police sources confirmed each of the boys, including Kallan, were known to police, and in particular to officers from Operation Mongoose, the regional version of the highly successful Operation Sweetenham tackling young thugs who commit break and enters and steal cars.

In the wake of his death, one of Kallan’s young friends posted an impassioned plea to social media, urging his mates to stop stealing cars in their outback towns, fearing the ongoing consequences of his mates’ latest crime spree.

It’s a common occurrence in Bourke and Brewarrina, with a TikTok account dedicated to boasting about joy rides in stolen cars in Brewarrina and Bourke garnering hundreds of young followers.

“I really do hope you lads started pulling (your) heads in now …. Please, we need you more than you think boys,” Kallan’s friend wrote.

“This ain’t a f***ing joke anymore man, we are losing (kids) everyday now because of these poxy cars and one of you could be next.

“It’s all fun and games until you’re in a cop chase and end up in a pursuit. But think of the consequences, you might not get to wake up again or say goodbye to the ones you love.”

The incident began when police were called to Burroway Road in Narromine about 11.15pm on Thursday, following reports the teens had stolen cigarettes from a petrol station.

Police began searching for the four boys, who had taken off in an allegedly stolen car, and found them 15km east of Nyngan on the Mitchell Highway about 12.08am.

A pursuit was initiated, but quickly terminated due to safety concerns. Police then reinitiated the chase in Coolabah about 12.45am.

Despite police deploying two sets of road spikes in Coolabah and Bourke, the group continued into the township of Bourke at high speeds.

Kallan Murray, 17. Picture: Supplied

Police said officers were still in pursuit when the car crashed and rolled on Weir Road in Bourke about 1.30am - more than 330 kilometres from where the incident first began in Narromine.

Kallan died at the scene, while the 13-year-old boy was taken to Bourke hospital in a serious condition. The 16-year-old boy is in a stable condition while the 14-year-old boy was flown to Sydney Children’s Hospital in serious condition.

A critical incident investigation is now underway within the NSW Police Force, as detectives examine the circumstances leading to Kallan’s death.

“Police were still in pursuit of the vehicle when the crash occurred, they stopped with the vehicle and attempted first aid,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Brendan Gorman said.

“There is no indication at this stage police are at fault, but that will be subject to investigation.”

It’s the second death in the space of a month linked to escalating youth crime and stolen cars in the state’s western regions.

Last month Daniel McNamara was killed after being hit by a stolen ute allegedly driven by a 14-year-old Moree boy and two other passengers of the same age.

Motorbike rider Daniel McNamara, who was hit and killed by teens in a stolen Ute near Gunnedah

One of the boys involved had a 38-page criminal record and more than 90 breaches of bail.

On Friday, NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley described the Bourke incident as a “horrendous event” and said the escalating youth crime issue in NSW was “hugely complex”.

“There are no quick fixes. Simply making bail tougher won’t fix it. Simply making penalties tougher won’t fix it,” he told a budget estimates hearing.

“Its very complex, there are many causes for young people who are misbehaving.

“There are a raft of measures we have implemented, but any talk that one legislative measure can fix this deep-seeded and complex problem is unfortunately not going to be the case.”

While the NSW Government introduced tougher bail legislation for kids and additional funding for a targeted response in the town of Moree and surrounds, NSW Nationals leader Dugald Saunders said more needed to be done.

Leader of the Nationals Dugald Saunders. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

This week, the Nationals proposed new reforms that would include even stricter teen bail laws and changes to doli incapax, the Latin phrase for “incapable of evil”.

“We have seen yet another tragic escalation of the regional youth crime crisis, with the death of a 17-year-old boy following a police pursuit and crash in Bourke overnight,” he said.

“My thoughts go out to the teenager’s family and friends who will be struggling to come to terms with this senseless loss.

“We need legislative change to stop repeat youth offenders from carrying out crime sprees across our communities which is why we will introduce a bill to parliament next month.

“It will include changes to the bail act to stop courts granting bail to serious repeat offenders, changes to doli incapax, and amending the crimes sentencing procedure act to give more consideration to the harm that is caused to the victim.”