Critical incident declared after armed pursuit ends in man’s death near Murwillumbah
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A critical incident investigation is underway after a man died following a cross-border police pursuit that began in Queensland and ended in the Tweed hinterland early on Sunday.
NSW Police said officers were alerted about 1am after the Queensland Police Service reported that a man, believed to be armed with a firearm, had crossed into New South Wales while being pursued.
NSW Police began searching the area before locating a Ford utility on Sexton Hill Drive at Banora Point.
Police directed the driver to stop, but he allegedly failed to comply, prompting officers to initiate a pursuit.
The pursuit continued through several nearby suburbs before road spikes were successfully deployed twice in South Murwillumbah.
Despite the damaged tyres, the driver continued south before the vehicle came to a stop down an embankment on Kyogle Road at Kunghur, about 26 kilometres south-west of Murwillumbah, shortly after 2am.
Police established a perimeter around the vehicle and specialist police negotiators were called to the scene.
When officers later approached the vehicle, they found the driver unconscious.
Police immediately commenced CPR; however, the man could not be revived and died at the scene.
While he is yet to be formally identified, police believe the man was a 25-year-old Queensland resident.
A firearm was seized from the vehicle and will undergo forensic examination.
A critical incident team from Richmond Police District has commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
A report will be prepared for the NSW Coroner.
