A 20-year-old man has died following a police pursuit in Lake Macquarie, New South Wales. Police attempted to stop a motorbike on King Street, Hamilton, about 7:30pm on Saturday after noticing its number plates were obscured.
The pursuit continued through five suburbs, with police alleging the man was speeding. Five minutes later, the rider lost control and crashed into a traffic pole on the Pacific Highway at Charlestown.
Officers and paramedics performed CPR, but the man could not be revived. The rider is yet to be formally identified, but police say he was known to them in relation to previous traffic matters.
Assistant Commissioner David Waddell described the incident as a tragic situation. He said the pursuit was monitored by a senior officer and conducted under strict guidelines. A critical incident investigation is underway to review the circumstances, including the actions of both the rider and police.
Police are investigating whether the incident involved 'post and gloat' behaviour, a trend where riders film and share dangerous behaviour online. Investigators urge anyone with CCTV or dash cam footage to come forward.
