A teenager has died after a 100km police pursuit in outback New South Wales, prompting an independent review of the incident. The 17-year-old was killed when the allegedly stolen car crashed and rolled on the outskirts of Bourke at about 1:30am on Friday.
Three other boys were injured in the crash, including a 14-year-old who was flown to Sydney in a serious condition. Police had deployed tyre spikes twice during the 45-minute pursuit, first at Coolabah and then on the approach to Bourke, but the vehicle continued before losing control.
The pursuit began after reports of a robbery at a service station in Narromine, central NSW, more than two hours earlier. Police said four teenagers left the scene in a stolen car, which was spotted near Nyngan before a longer chase started at Coolabah at about 12:45am.
NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley described the incident as a tragedy that had devastated young lives and the small community of Bourke. 'These sorts of tragedies vibrate through those communities with such devastation,' she said.
Attorney General Michael Daley extended his sympathies to the family of the deceased, calling it a 'horrendous event'. The opposition has raised concerns about youth crime in the wake of the crash. The police investigation will be subject to an independent review.
