THE FINAL SECONDS WERE CHILLING..! – WITNESSES HAVE DESCRIBED THE SHOCKING MOMENTS AFTER AN ALLEGEDLY ARMED DRIVER D!ED FOLLOWING A 65KM POLICE PURSUIT.
A witness has recalled hearing a ‘scraping’ noise before spotting a convoy of police cars during the dramatic chase.
How long was the cross-border police pursuit before the vehicle stopped?
Why was an independent investigation triggered after the incident?
A witness has spoken of hearing a “scraping” noise before watching a convoy of police vehicles race past during the cross-border pursuit of an armed driver who was later found dead.
Queensland Police were first called to Robina Town Centre Dr on the Gold Coast about 11.42pm on Saturday following reports of an armed man in a white ute.
Officers later found the vehicle parked on the side of West Burleigh Rd about 12.40am on Sunday and attempted to detain the driver.
Police allege he fled, triggering a pursuit towards the Gold Coast Highway before crossing the Queensland-NSW border shortly after 1am.
After being alerted by Queensland Police, NSW officers located the ute travelling on Sexton Hill Dr at Banora Point and directed the driver to stop.
Police say he refused, sparking another pursuit through several northern NSW suburbs.
Road spikes were successfully deployed twice at South Murwillumbah, but despite driving on shredded tyres and eventually on bare rims, the ute continued for another 26km before coming to a stop down an embankment.
Witness Keith Smith told 7NEWS he looked out onto the street after hearing a “scraping noise”.
“When I looked out there was just a line of police going about 60km/h … you know, a bit of O.J. Simpson situation really,” Smith said comparing the convoy to the infamous 1994 police pursuit of the former American footballer.
Police established a perimeter around the vehicle before specialist negotiators were called to the scene.
Assistant Commissioner Tracy Chapman said officers used pepper spray (OC) before removing the man from the vehicle.
“They deployed OC spray and removed the man from the vehicle and at that time police became aware he was unconscious,” Chapman said.
Officers immediately began CPR, but the man could not be revived.
A modified lever-action long-arm was seized from the ute and will undergo forensic examination.
The man is yet to be formally identified, but police believe he is a 25-year-old Queensland man.
A critical incident was declared, triggering an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the driver’s death.
The investigation will be led by the Professional Standards Command and overseen by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
