A man has been charged following a police pursuit in Lismore yesterday (Tuesday March 6), which left three police vehicles and at least one other car damaged.
About 10.50am, a woman was driving a green Ford station wagon on Ballina Road, Lismore Heights, when her vehicle was struck by a red Toyota Camry.
Police were told the Camry was being driven erratically and failed to stop after the crash.
It was next seen on Dibbs Street travelling towards St Vincent’s Hospital.
About 11am, police received a call from a member of the public who told officers he had seen the vehicle travelling at speed before it crashed into a wall near Bent Street, Lismore.
Police patrolling on Brewster Street sighted the vehicle allegedly being driven on the incorrect side of the road. It is then alleged; the vehicle drove toward police, before being driven away at speed.
The car was allegedly seen travelling throughout several nearby roads before crashing into a parked vehicle on Keen Street and then through a chained fence onto a sports ground.
Police sighted the vehicle again on Wolstenholme Street and initiated a pursuit.
It is alleged that upon sighting police, the man drove away at speed into an open wetland area toward the Wilson River.
The pursuit continued to Albert Park, where the man allegedly drove through one of the fences and across a number of sports grounds, before the Camry was driven into a police car.
The Camry was driven through another boundary fence toward Keen Street, before crashing into a stationary police vehicle and heading towards the river.
It then hit another police car before being blocked by another two police vehicles.
The man was removed from the vehicle by police and arrested. He was taken to Lismore Base Hospital for blood and urine tests, before being taken to Lismore Police Station.
No injuries were reported to police or by police during the incidents.
The 30-year-old man was charged with dangerous driving, destroying or damaging property, not stopping during a police pursuit, using an offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention and never being licensed to drive.
The man was refused bail and will appear at Lismore Local Court today (Wednesday March 7).
