A TEENAGER will remain in custody, accused of reaching speeds of close to 200km per hour as he allegedly tried to outrun police.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Seth Keith Wills was allegedly on a suspended licence when he tried to avoid police during what they said were three separate and "downright dangerous" police pursuits from Deepwater to Guyra on Sunday evening.
The 19-year-old was denied bail in Armidale Local Court on Monday morning, after he was captured trying to get away from officers when he crashed a Holden Vectra.
Police allege the Holden Vectra was stolen from Queensland on Sunday morning. Highway officers were carrying out patrols on the New England Highway, north of Deepwater, at about 5pm when they spotted a gold Holden Vectra that was reported stolen.
READ ALSO:
Police allege the driver took off when officers signalled for it to stop, and a chase was launched. It was called off shortly after for safety concerns because the Vectra hit speeds of up to 160km per hour in a 100 zone, and veered onto the wrong side of the road.
Police allege the driver then failed to pay for more than $80 worth of fuel at a roadhouse in Deepwater
Back-up was alerted and officers spotted the same car south of Deepwater, where they initiated another pursuit but it failed to stop.
When the car was clocked at 180km per hour, with traffic on the road, officers abandoned the chase again.
Officers then set-up road spikes at Dundee, but were unable to deploy them when the Vectra flew past, at speeds estimated to be close to 200km per hour.
More police got into position at Guyra on the highway, near the intersection of Crystalbrook Road, at about 5.40pm.
Police were given permission to deploy road spikes, about 1km from town, and were successful, causing the tyres to deflate.
The Vectra lost control, crossed to the wrong side of the road, mounted the medium strip and footpath and onto the railway line, where it crashed down an embankment.
Police allege the driver tried to run towards Guyra, before he was captured.
Wills' faces a raft of charges including three police pursuit Skye's Law offences; failing to pay for fuel; drive while suspended; driving more than 45km per hour over the speed limit; and receiving stolen property from outside NSW.
New England Detective Acting Inspector Matt Crotty said the speeds were "downright dangerous".
"This was an incredibly dangerous situation that was diffused by excellent police work and coordination between officers across the New England Police District to apprehend this driver, before anyone was hurt," he said.
"It was only by the quick actions of police to resolve this incident, without injury to any members of the public, that we have one male before the courts facing a list of charges.
"We're always extremely concerned about road trauma and the toll it takes on the community, and people who we allege are deliberately driving in a dangerous manner, putting the safety of others at risk, we will pull out all stops to stop them."
Breanna Chillingworth
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
