AT LEAST two people have been charged for a lengthy police pursuit that extended across three states, with the stolen vehicle allegedly reaching speeds close to 200km/h.
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Victoria police began a pursuit with a Nissan X-Trail about 10.25am on October 29 at Benalla.
It’s believed the vehicle travelled along the Hume Highway to reach Albury about 11.30am.
Previous reports suggest the driver refuelled without paying and fled northbound on the Olympic Highway towards Wagga.
The X-Trail, spotted near Albury about 12.30pm, was pursued for a short time by Albury Highway Patrol before it was terminated near Holbrook for safety reasons.
Police from Wagga Highway Patrol detected the car travelling at 85km/h in a 50km/h area of the Olympic Highway at Uranquinty about 3.35pm.
The car was pursued along the Olympic and Sturt highways before the pursuit was again terminated for safety reasons when the vehicle veered to the wrong side of the road, endangering motorists and pedestrians.
The X-Trail then fled out of Wagga on the Coolamon Road before stopping at Marrar to again allegedly refuel without paying.
Wagga police later handed over control of the chase to Cootamundra as the vehicle continued towards Temora, Young and Cowra.
From there, about 4pm, Polair - the police helicopter that assists ground crews - was called in.
The last confirmed sighting of the vehicle was in Blayney, 30 minutes from Bathurst, late that afternoon.
A Queensland police media spokesman said yesterday a 21-year-old Ipswich man was charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle on November 4 and appeared in Ipswich Magistrate’s Court the following day where his bail was remanded to reappear in court on December 8.
A 19-year-old Ipswich man was then charged on November 11 with burglary, receiving tainted property of a set of keys, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, attempted arson of a car and stealing petrol.
He was released on bail when he appeared in Brisbane Magistrate’s Court on November 12 and will next appear on December 3.
Queensland police then charged a 17-year-old woman on November 26 with burglary, receiving tainted property of a set of keys, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, attempted arson of a car, stealing petrol, possessing drugs and possessing utensils relating to drugs.
She was due to face Ipswich Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
The Queensland police spokesman couldn’t comment on interstate offences or possible charges.
- The Daily Advertiser
