New South Wales police have declared a “critical incident” after a man died following a police pursuit in the northern rivers area, hours after the same man allegedly evaded Queensland police while armed with a gun.
The 25-year-old from Queensland was found unconscious at the wheel of a vehicle, which had driven down an embankment south of Murwillumbah, about 2am on Sunday, NSW police said.
According to statements by police in Queensland and NSW, the white Ford utility was first brought to the attention of Queensland officers when members of the public called to report “an armed man” on Robina Town Centre Drive at Robina, on the Gold Coast, shortly before midnight.
Queensland police said they located the stationary vehicle nearby about 12.40am.
“Police attempted to detain the driver but the driver evaded officers and headed eastbound towards Gold Coast Highway.”
About 1am, Queensland officers notified the NSW police the vehicle was headed across the border. It was located by NSW officers shortly after at Banora Point, just south of Tweed Heads.
“Officers directed the man to stop; however, he failed to do so, and a pursuit was initiated,” a NSW police statement said.
Police used road spikes twice at South Murwillumbah in an attempt to stop the vehicle, which appears to have continued to drive for about 20km before driving down the embankment.
When officers arrived they “established a perimeter around the Ford before police negotiators were deployed to speak to the man; however, as police approached the vehicle they found the driver unconscious”.
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Police said they attempted CPR, but the man died at the scene.
They said a firearm was seized from the vehicle.
