A stolen BYD electric hatchback allegedly reached 168km/h on the M1 before crashing near Fingal Head, with police claiming the driver then tried to escape by swimming across a lagoon.

Tweed-Byron Highway Patrol officers were alerted about 1.30pm on Sunday after a BYD hatchback was allegedly stolen in Bilinga, Queensland, and driven south towards the border.

Police began searching the Pacific Highway and located the vehicle about 10 minutes later near the Kennedy Drive off-ramp at Fingal Head.

Officers directed the driver to stop, however police allege he failed to comply and a pursuit was initiated.

Police allege the hatchback accelerated to 168km/h in a 100km/h zone before continuing towards Chinderah.

The vehicle then exited via Fingal Road.

The pursuit was terminated after police allege the driver drove onto a footpath alongside the Tweed River, creating a danger to the public.

Lagoon swim follows crash

A short time later, the Queensland Police Service PolAir helicopter tracked the vehicle and advised NSW Police it had crashed into several fences, gardens and parked vehicles along Fingal Road.

The BYD eventually came to a stop after colliding with two palm trees.

Police allege the driver fled the scene on foot before swimming across Wommin Lagoon, near Lagoon Road at Fingal Head, in an attempt to evade capture.

Officers located and arrested Leonard Horne, 28, from the Sunshine Coast, a short time later on Lagoon Road.

He was taken to Tweed Valley Hospital for mandatory testing and treatment of an unrelated arm injury.

Refused Bail

Horne has been charged with police pursuit, fail to stop, dangerous driving, exceeding the speed limit by more than 45km/h in a Class A motor vehicle, breaching licence conditions and failing to provide particulars to the owner of damaged property.

Horne was refused bail on Monday morning when he appeared before the online bail division.

In refusing bail, Judge Phillip Sim said police were first alerted to Horne after reports of a vehicle being driven erratically into NSW.

The court heard Horne had an outstanding warrant dating back to 2019 and had records in Queensland, where he appeared to have been living.

Judge Sim said the allegations were “extremely serious”, with the alleged high-speed pursuit putting lives at risk before the vehicle crashed into property.

He said Horne had then allegedly attempted to avoid police, despite the outstanding warrant.

Judge Sim said the court could not be satisfied any bail conditions would reduce the risk and refused bail.

He is due to appear before Tweed Heads Local Court on June 9.