Teenager killed, four hospitalised after stolen car crashes during police chase in NSW
14-year-old driver and three others treated at John Hunter Hospital after Scone crash; police launch critical incident probe
A 17-year-old boy died and four other people were taken to hospital after a stolen car crashed during a police pursuit just north of Scone in New South Wales late Saturday, authorities said.
Emergency services were called to the New England Highway at Aberdeen just before midnight after police attempted to stop a vehicle that was travelling at high speed and failed to comply. The pursuit ended when the car crashed about 100 metres north of Makybe Diva Street at Scone, according to police statements.
Paramedics treated the driver and a front-seat passenger after both were trapped in the wreckage. The front-seat passenger, a 17-year-old boy, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, a 14-year-old boy, was flown to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle.
Three other occupants from the rear of the vehicle were also taken to hospital with what police described as non-life-threatening injuries: two boys aged 14 and 17 and a 25-year-old woman. Based on initial inquiries, police said the boys are from the Tamworth area and the woman is from the Newcastle area.
Police believe the vehicle was stolen from a Wallsend business on Saturday afternoon. The pursuit and subsequent crash have been classified as a critical incident and are subject to an investigation by the NSW Police critical incident unit.
Ambulance crews and fire crews attended the scene to free the trapped occupants and provide emergency treatment. Hospital officials confirmed the 14-year-old driver and the three rear-seat occupants were receiving treatment at John Hunter Hospital; their conditions were reported as non-life-threatening.
The investigation will examine the circumstances leading to the theft of the vehicle, the pursuit and the crash. Police made no comment on any potential charges pending the outcome of the probe and ongoing inquiries.
Local authorities have urged anyone with information to contact police as enquiries continue into the incident and the events that preceded the crash.