A 31-year-old man from Mount Gambier has suffered serious injuries following a dramatic crash in South Australia's Mid North, after police allege he was behind the wheel of a stolen vehicle.
Public Tip-Off Leads to Police Chase
The incident began to unfold around 8pm on Thursday, when an alert member of the public in Morgan recognised a Toyota Land Cruiser. The vehicle matched the description of one posted on social media as being stolen. The witness immediately contacted South Australia Police.
Police resources, including the PolAir helicopter, were swiftly deployed. The helicopter tracked the four-wheel-drive as it travelled at speed south on the Thiele Highway and Eudunda Road, heading in the direction of Truro.
Dramatic Crash in Dutton
The pursuit came to a sudden end just before 9pm. The Land Cruiser allegedly left the road and crashed into a ditch in Dutton, a locality approximately one hour's drive northeast of Adelaide.
Patrol officers arrived at the scene a short time after the crash. The driver, the 31-year-old Mount Gambier man, was found with serious injuries and required urgent medical attention. He was airlifted to hospital for treatment.
Passengers Injured, Driver Under Arrest
Two passengers were also in the vehicle at the time of the crash. A 27-year-old woman from Munno Para and a 36-year-old man from Salisbury Park both sustained minor injuries.
The driver was arrested at the scene and is expected to face multiple charges. These are likely to include illegal use of a motor vehicle, driving in a manner dangerous to the public, and other related offences.
SA Police have confirmed that investigations into the circumstances surrounding the theft and the crash are ongoing.
