Say goodbye … Aaron Robinson, brother of deceased Matt, pours beer (how touching)over the site of the fatal car accident / Dean Marzolla TWO teenagers are dead and another on the run after a stolen car crashed during a high-speed police pursuit in Sydney's west.
Two die after police chase
February 26, 2005
From: AAP
The men were in a stolen sedan along Eucalyptus Drive, Macquarie Fields, at 11pm (AEDT) yesterday when they recognised an unmarked police car and sped off, a NSW police spokesman said.
The police car gave chase but less than a minute later the sedan hit a curb and ploughed into a tree.
The two deceased aged 17 and 19, both "known to police", were killed instantly and the third person fled.
Police who gathered at the scene to investigate were pelted with stones and other debris by revellers drinking nearby.
Two officers sustained minor head injuries - one caused by a brick - and three police cars were damaged.
Superintendent John Sweeney, from Macquarie Fields police, described the crash as "horrendous" and said the subsequent attacks were "sadly disappointing".
"The crowd just built up and alcohol and the emotions contributed quite severely to the incident," Supt Sweeney told reporters.
"The difficulty was that the people were still trapped in the vehicle and we were attempting to show some dignity to the deceased."
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The officer said the pursuit was "very short" and it was not known if police had activated the lights and sirens.
Supt Sweeney could not say how fast either vehicle was travelling but said the stolen car had set off at "high speed".
Asked if the police officers followed textbook pursuit protocol, he said "from my inquiries, it appears so".
"But ... it's subject to a coroner's report," he said.
"That takes some time and there are a number of witnesses to be sorted out and we need to find out from the actual driver what happened."
Supt Sweeney urged the driver to report to police, saying he was "known" in the local community.
"It's quite obvious that members of the community know what the story is and it's in his interests to come forward," he said.
"(He'll) come forward once the emotions calm down."
The officer said relatives of the two men had been contacted and many had already visited the crash scene to lay flowers and cards in their memory.
Police have launched a critical incident investigation and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
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