Rocks thrown, patrol car rammed as thieves chased on hwy
ROCKS were thrown at oncoming traffic, a driver was knocked unconscious and a patrol car rammed by alleged thieves during a dramatic police chase on a busy NSW highway.
A 29-year-old man remains in a critical condition after a rock smashed his windscreen and hit him in the head on the New England Hwy late Thursday.
Moments before, police were chasing a stolen car down the highway about 20kms north of Glenn Innes.
The chase was terminated when one of the car's five passengers allegedly threw a rock at an unmarked police car.
Soon after, a passenger was allegedly spotted again throwing rocks, one of which hit the blue dual-cab and injured the driver whose father was forced to take control of the vehicle.
The stolen car then allegedly crashed into a patrol car and the five passengers were arrested and taken to the Armidale Police Station.
A 27-year-old man was charged with grievous bodily harm, use offensive weapon in company to prevent detention; robbery and police pursuit - not stop - drive dangerously (Skye's Law).
Three other men, two aged 22 and one aged 21 and a 19-year-old woman were also charged with grievous bodily harm and weapons offences.
The 29-year-old dual cab driver is being treated for serious head injuries at a Newcastle hospital.
A Critical Incident Investigation Team has been established to examine the incident.
