A 21-year-old man will appear in court after he was arrested following a traffic pursuit in Alice Springs last night.

The man allegedly refused to stop when police activated their vehicle's lights and sirens after noticing the Holden Commodore speeding in Espie Street just after 3am. The driver allegedly reached speeds of up to 130 kilometres per hour in a 60 zone as he led police on a chase through the CBD.

The man then drove out of town along the South Stuart Highway before turning left into Palm Circuit. He then drove over a roundabout at the end of Palm Circuit before slowing down. Police then positioned their vehicle to the right of the Commodore in order to arrest the driver, when he suddenly accelerated and drove into the path of the police car colliding with the left hand side. The driver then sped off along a dirt track for about two kilometres before the car became bogged. The driver fled the vehicle but was arrested a short distance away.

He was found to be driving with a blood alcohol level of .117 per cent. He has been charged with numerous offences including:

Drive at a speed and in a manner dangerous
Drive disqualified
Not stop after an accident
Recklessly endangering serious harm
Drive disqualified

He will appear in Alice Springs Magistrates Court today.


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Theresa Kuilboer
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