A 17-year-old male has been charged with numerous offences in relation to a pursuit that occurred on 9 September this year.

It is alleged that the male driver was reported to police after being witnessed driving a BMW in a dangerous manner around Darwin City at approximately 1:30 am.

Police located the vehicle on Mitchell Street and followed it for a short time, however ceased their efforts as the vehicle drove off at speed along the Stuart Highway, travelling in the wrong lane.

The vehicle then travelled outbound on the inbound lane of the Stuart Highway where it collided with the trailer of a road train as it entered onto the Stuart Highway from Tivendale Road.

Police and Fire and Rescue members attended the scene and cut the 17-year-old male from the vehicle before conveying both him and his 15-year-old male passenger to Royal Darwin Hospital.

The inbound lane of the Stuart Highway remained closed for several hours as the crash scene was examined.

It was later established that the BMW involved in the incident had been stolen from NSW last month.

The 17-year-old male has been charged with:

Drive at a speed and in a manner dangerous (x2)
Recklessly endangering life (x2)
Drive a motor vehicle while unlicensed
Enter intersection against red light (x3)
Drive without L plates when required
Fail to drive in traffic lane (x2)
Drive in a public place without due care (x2)
Fail to obey direction of police officer (x2)
Drive vehicle in a manner dangerous
Exceed speed limit 16-30km/h over limit (x2)
Exceed speed limit 31-45km/h over limit
Driving at dangerous speed - ESL more than 45km/h (x2)
Fail to keep left of a median strip (x2)
Damage property where loss is over $5 000 (x2)
L plater drive with alcohol in blood
Drive with dangerous drug in blood
Administer dangerous drug to self

He was remanded in custody to appear in the Darwin Youth Justice Court today.


Media contact:
Sue Bradley
8922 3185