A man and woman have been arrested following a pursuit and car fire in the Newcastle area.
Just after 10.30am today (Thursday 7 December 2023), officers attached to a specialist command attempted to stop a white SUV on Fowler Street, Hamilton South.
When the vehicle allegedly failed to stop as directed, a pursuit was initiated and terminated a short time later due to safety concerns.
With assistance from PolAir, the vehicle was tracked to Sygna Close, Rankin Park, where a passenger exited the vehicle.
Police located a 26-year-old woman nearby who was taken to Waratah Police Station; she has since been taken to hospital for assessment.
The vehicle continued before leaving the road and crashing on McCaffrey Drive, Rankin Park; it caught alight, and the fire was extinguished by Fire and Rescue NSW.
The driver – a 27-year-old man – was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics and taken to John Hunter Hospital in a serious but stable condition.
Police have established a crime scene and commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.