A wanted woman has been charged after a police pursuit in Sydney’s west which ended with a toddler dying after being struck by a car.
Katie Tuite, 22, wanted on six warrants, will face court on Friday after she was arrested at Clapton Place, Darlinghurst, in inner Sydney.
Police would not comment on whether Tuite had been a passenger in one of the cars or her relationship to a male driver, who remains at large. Tuite faces charges of theft, drug and arms possession, and supply.
The chase unfolded after police tried to stop a stolen car in Constitution Hill, near Parramatta, but it sped down a residential street with a dead-end.
It is believed the stolen car crashed through a green backyard fence on Bessbrook Way where children were playing.
The 17-month-old girl was hit by a car and sustained critical injuries.
It is unclear at this stage which car hit the child but police have launched a critical incident investigation.
The girl is a twin, and one of eight children.
Police say she was treated by paramedics but later died at the Children’s Hospital in Westmead.
A family member, Joseph Tauaifaga, has posted an angry message on Facebook threatening revenge.
Residents of the quiet street have described hearing a bang and seeing children running into their homes.
Rose, 14, said she and her sisters often played with the girl’s family and was outside in the nearby park watching children play cricket.
“Everyone just ran for their lives,” she said. “I got scared and I ran inside.
“I heard the sirens, I went to see what happened – the mum of the child was holding a newborn baby screaming out.”
Other neighbours, who did not wish to be named, were furious at the high-speed chase through an area full of children playing in cul-de-sacs.
“This could have been a lot worse,” one neighbour said on Friday. “I don’t understand why they were going at such a high speed. When we drive through here we are so careful because children are always playing together outside, riding their bikes.”
Assistant police commissioner Frank Mennilli said his thoughts and prayers were with the family but also with the police involved, who were suffering.
“They are distraught – they really are – these are family members. They’ve got children the same age. They are doing it very tough at the moment.”
Video footage showed clearly distraught police officers with their heads in their hands.
Behind them was a broken green steel fence and scattered toys in the yard.
Mennilli said the male driver had a history of violence: “We’re reaching out to members of the community. This man is well known to them and they know who this person is.”
A police critical incident team is investigating all circumstances surrounding the incident, including the pursuit, alongside the crash investigation unit.
The investigation will also be overseen by the professional standards command.
