Six Teenagers Charged After High-Speed Pursuit in Hunter Region
Hunter Region, 23 June 2024 — Police have charged six teenagers following a dramatic high-speed pursuit last night in the Hunter region.
At approximately 10:35 p.m. on Saturday, 22 June 2024, officers from the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command spotted an allegedly stolen Volkswagen sedan speeding on the New England Highway in Whittingham. The vehicle failed to stop when signaled, prompting a police pursuit.
The chase extended through Singleton and Muswellbrook before police deployed road spikes and established a roadblock near Aberdeen, successfully stopping the vehicle. During the roadblock, the Volkswagen reportedly rammed into two highway patrol cars.
All six occupants of the car—a 14-year-old male driver and five male passengers, one aged 15 and four aged 17—were arrested at the scene and taken to Muswellbrook Police Station.
The 14-year-old driver faces multiple charges, including police pursuit–not stop–drive recklessly, drive conveyance taken without consent of owner, goods in personal custody suspected being stolen, exceeding speed limit by more than 45km/h, and destroying or damaging property. Police allege the driver reached speeds of up to 160km/h in a 90km/h zone during the pursuit.
The four 17-year-old passengers were each charged with being carried in a conveyance taken without the owner’s consent and possessing means to disguise their face with intent to commit an indictable offense. The 15-year-old passenger was charged with being carried in a conveyance taken without the owner’s consent.
All six teenagers were refused bail and are set to appear before a children’s court today, Sunday, 23 June 2024.
