A 17-year-old boy has died following a police pursuit in the New South Wales Hunter Valley overnight. The incident began when police attempted to stop a speeding vehicle on the New England Highway at Aberdeen just before midnight on Saturday.
Police allege the car was stolen and the 14-year-old driver failed to pull over, prompting a pursuit. The chase continued north before the vehicle crashed near Makybe Diva Street in Scone.
The 14-year-old driver was flown to John Hunter Hospital, while three other passengers—two teenage boys and a 25-year-old woman—were treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The four boys are believed to be from Tamworth, and the woman from the Newcastle area.
Police believe the car was stolen from a business in Wallsend earlier that evening, more than 140 kilometres from the crash site. A critical incident investigation has been launched to examine the actions of police and the driver.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Chad Gillies said the investigation would look into the reasons for the vehicle theft and the pursuit. Police are also appealing for information about another car in the area at the time, as the stolen car attempted to pass it.
