Teenage Joyrider’s Wild Ride Ends in Chaos: Young Woman Fighting for Life After Stolen Ute Smashes into Cars During Police Pursuit
- A 21-year-old woman is in a critical condition after a stolen ute crashed into her car during a police chase in Liverpool
- The 17-year-old driver of the ute has been charged with eight offences, including aggravated dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm
- NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden refused to explain the surge in police pursuits in the state, despite a recent report revealing a tripling of pursuits since 2014
- The incident has sparked an investigation, with the Professional Standards Command reviewing the circumstances surrounding the crash
A harrowing police pursuit in Liverpool has left a young woman fighting for her life, after a stolen ute driven by a teenage boy crashed into several cars, including the BMW she was a passenger in.
The chaos unfolded on Wednesday night, when the ute, driven by the 17-year-old boy, sped through a red light on Elizabeth Drive, prompting police to initiate a pursuit. The chase was terminated due to safety concerns, but officers continued to monitor the ute, which later drove through another red light and smashed into the BMW and a Toyota Yaris at the intersection of the Hume Highway.
In a statement, NSW Police said the pursuit resumed a short time after it was terminated, but the ute’s reckless driver showed no signs of slowing down. The critically injured woman was rushed to hospital, where she remains in a critical condition, while two others were left with serious injuries.
The 17-year-old driver of the stolen ute was taken to Liverpool Police Station after being released from Fairfield Hospital and has been charged with eight offences, including two counts of aggravated dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm — escaping pursuit. He was refused bail to appear in a children’s court on Thursday.
As the community reels from the shocking incident, NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden was grilled by reporters about the surge in police pursuits in the state. However, he refused to provide a clear explanation, instead highlighting the transparency and accountability measures in place to review pursuits. “So I think over the last 11 years, our steps to make sure there is a lot of transparency and accountability in relation to that roadcraft and decision-making with pursuits has really put us in a stronger position to understand the challenges our officers are facing in the field,” he said.
The incident has sparked a critical incident investigation, with officers from Burwood Police Area Command probing the circumstances surrounding the crash. The Professional Standards Command will review the investigation, with oversight by police watchdog the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission.