A woman will face court today following an alleged pursuit with children in vehicle on the state's Mid North Coast yesterday.
About 3.30pm (Wednesday 10 July 2024), officers attached to Manning/Great Lakes Police District were patrolling Taree when they attempted to stop a vehicle which was allegedly being driven in a dangerous manner on Barton Street near Bushland Drive.
When the vehicle failed to stop, police initiated a pursuit. It was terminated a short time later due to safety concerns.
After monitoring the vehicle, police successfully deployed road spikes on the northbound lanes of the Pacific Highway, north of Cundletown.
The vehicle did a U-turn and came to a stop in the southbound lanes, where the female driver allegedly ran from the vehicle. She was arrested nearby following a short foot pursuit.
Four children – aged 15, 10 and two children aged two – and a dog, were located uninjured in the abandoned vehicle.
The 34-year-old woman was taken to Taree Police Station, where she was subjected to alcohol and drug tests, which allegedly returned a positive result for methamphetamine. This will undergo further analysis.
The woman was charged with police pursuit - not stop - drive dangerously, abandon etc child under 7 cause danger serious injury (DV), and learner not accompanied by driver/police officer/tester.
The woman was refused bail and appeared at Taree Local Court today (Thursday 11 July 2024).
