Image by fsHH from Pixabay
A Victorian man who seemingly believed that the Victoria-NSW border restriction didn’t apply to him has been arrested after leading police on a wild 200km car chase that only ended when he ran out of fuel.
The man allegedly unlawfully crossed the NSW/Victoria border in defiance of the NSW COVID-19 regulations and was stopped by officers from Operation Border Closure, who were conducting permit checks at a checkpoint on the Hume Highway at South Albury.
The 51-year-old admitted he had no permit, but said he intended to drive to the ACT. Checks revealed that he had previously tried to drive there, but had been refused permission under the same regulations
He was then told to return to Victoria with a police escort. While under escort, it’s alleged the vehicle took off from police at speed onto a Hume Highway on-ramp.
A chase ensued, during which time the car was clocked at speeds in excess of 170km/h in a 110km/h zone.
Pursuing officers deployed spikes on the road and one tyre was deflated. But, in a chase scene that sounds like a Hollywood script, the man kept driving on the damaged rim with police following on behind.
The chase only ended after 200km when the vehicle ran out of petrol near Jugiong and he was arrested and taken to Gundagai Police Station,. He has been was charged with breaching COVID-19 regulations and numerous road traffic offences.
Meanwhile, in another road traffic incident involving NSW Police, a man was arrested for driving at more than 90km/h above the speed limit while he had his pregnant wife and three young children in the car with him.
The incident occurred near Yass, when officers saw a station wagon allegedly travelling at 169km/h in a signposted 80km/h zone.
The man – who’s from Temora – has been issued with a $2 482 fine and six demerit points for speeding; his licence has been suspended for six months. He also tested positive to a roadside drugs test and officers are now awaiting the results of a secondary test taken at a police station.
An official statement says three children under the age of seven were in the back seat and a child-at-risk notification has been made to the Department of Family & Community Services (FACS).