A 38-year-old Morisset man is facing a dozen charges after allegedly engaging police in a car chase in Hamilton and later crashing into another vehicle, leaving four people injured.
The P-plate driver, himself hospitalised, is facing serious charges including dangerous driving, failing to stop after a crash, and being involved in a police pursuit.
He was refused bail after being arrested on Saturday but remains in hospital. He did not appear via audio visual link later that day at Newcastle Bail Court, and is now listed to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Monday (November 15).
The incident occurred just after 11am on Thursday, November 11, when Northern Region High Visibility police allegedly saw an unregistered red Suzuki Swift were patrolling on Everton Street, Hamilton.
The driver allegedly failed to stop as directed and a pursuit began. But the chase was short-lived, called off by police shortly after it began due to safety concerns in the busy and popular suburb.
Officers found the Suzuki rolled on its side after colliding with a Toyota Hilux at the intersection of Lawson and Denison Streets.
A rear seat passenger of the Suzuki - a 27-year-old woman - was trapped in the car before being freed by emergency services and was taken to John Hunter Hospital in a critical but stable condition. The driver and two other passengers of the Suzuki fled the scene on foot but were found and arrested a short distance away.
The two passengers - a 29-year-old woman and a 23-year-old man - were taken to hospital where they were treated and later released. The Suzuki driver was taken to John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition under police guard and charged with 12 offences.
They were:
- dangerous driving occasion grievous bodily harm - drive manner dangerous
- fail to stop and assist after vehicle impact causing grievous bodily harm
- cause bodily harm by misconduct, in charge of motor vehicle
- not stop at/before stop line/stop sign
- negligent driving (occasions grievous bodily harm)
- police pursuit - not stop - drive dangerously
- not comply P2 licence condition not display P plates
- not give particulars to other driver
- use unregistered registrable Class A motor vehicle on road
- use uninsured motor vehicle
- driver fails/refuses to disclose his/her identity
- fail to stop and assist after impact cause injury
