A stolen car chase through the region spiralled into chaos on Wednesday, with road spikes meant for a teenage driver from Sydney in a stolen vehicle instead shredding the tyres of four innocent motorists.
Officers from Mid North Coast Police District spotted a Kia SUV, reported stolen from Bronte the day before, on the Pacific Highway at Frederickton shortly after 8am. When the driver allegedly failed to stop, police gave chase.
The pursuit tore north along the highway, ducked briefly onto Ginnagay Way, then rejoined the Pacific Highway. At Bonville, officers threw down road spikes in a bid to end it. The deployment failed.
“Road spiking is a very dangerous activity the police undertake, but it is a safe option to end high-speed police pursuits,” Sgt Jarrod Langman said.
“Sometimes things don’t go as we plan.”
Instead of stopping the stolen SUV, the spikes caught out passing traffic. .
Within seconds, four civilian cars were caught in the chaos, their tyres shredded by the spikes meant for the fleeing SUV.
“Something flung out in front of us, and right when we’d seen the police as well, then the car started rattling,” Rachel Stockton said.
Ms Stockton’s quick errand ending in needing new tyres and rims, thanks to the damage caused as she backed out of harm’s way in heavy traffic.
“The were screaming when we we’re trying to reverse back. It was touching the metal. Air went completely down.
“I can see how they would stop, you know, wild cars racing along.”
With safety concerns mounting, police called off the pursuit as it reached Coffs Harbour. Officers from Coffs/Clarence Police District picked up the search, and about 8.45am found the SUV abandoned on Kotuku Street.
A further search led police to Joyce Street, Coffs Harbour, where two teenage boys, aged 16 and 13, were arrested and taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station.
The 16-year-old, from Sydney, was charged with breach of bail, police pursuit not stop, drive at speed, and drive conveyance taken without consent of owner. He was refused bail at Bail Division Court on Wednesday and will front a Children’s Court on Friday, 24 July.
The 13-year-old was dealt with under the Young Offenders Act.
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