Two captured in high-speed chase
TWO men were arrested and charged last night after leading police on a 185km/h high-speed pursuit that ended with a crash and the discovery of a gun in the allegedly stolen car they were in.
The pursuit began about 1.20pm when police received reports of a Queensland-registered maroon Ford Falcon travelling at high speed along the Pacific Highway between Broadwater and Woodburn.
Police terminated the pursuit due to high speed near Broadwater and deployed cars from Ballina to intercept the vehicle.
Highway patrol cars caught up to the Falcon on the Ballina bypass at Cumbalum where it sideswiped a silver Toyota Camry before crashing into a guard rail.
The three people in the Camry were not injured.
The Falcon made it to Tamarind Drive (the old Pacific Highway) at Cumbalum, where police arrested the vehicle's passenger, but the driver fled into nearby bush.
Following the arrest officers searched the car and found a gun.
Police launched a manhunt for the driver, who had disappeared into bushland on the western side of Tamarind Drive.
Officers involved in the search were told to look for a man who was believed to be between 15 and 20 years old and was wearing a black T-shirt and blue jeans.
At 3.40pm police reported sighting the youth and called for all available resources to be deployed to help arrest him.
At 4.05pm officers arrested the man and took him to Ballina police station.
Police said both men, who were in their 20s were refused bail and will appear in Lismore local court today.
Anyone with any information on the speeding car can contact Ballina Police on 02 6681 8699 or Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
