Further charges laid after critical incident declared - Bourke
Thursday, 08 May 2025 02:00:33 PM
A teenage boy has been charged after a critical incident was declared over a pursuit in the state’s west in February this year.
About 11.15pm on Thursday 27 February 2025, officers attached to Orana-Mid Western Police District were called to a reported robbery at a service station on Burroway Road Narromine.
Police were told four teenagers left the scene in a SUV before officers arrived.
About 12.10am on Friday 28 February 2025, police were patrolling the Mitchell Highway, about 15km from Nyngan, when they attempted to stop the SUV.
When it failed to stop, a pursuit was initiated however, it was terminated a short time later.
About 12.45am, a pursuit was reinitiated on the Mitchell Highway, Coolabah, after road spikes were successfully deployed.
About 1.30am, the pursuit was terminated after the SUV had rolled on Weir Road, Bourke.
Officers immediately rendered assistance to the four occupants of the car however, one of the occupants – a 17-year-old boy – died at the scene.
A 16-year-old boy – and a 13-year-old boy were treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to Bourke Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
A 14-year-old boy was airlifted to Sydney Children’s hospital in a serious condition.
Initial inquiries revealed the SUV was reported stolen from a home in the Blayney area on Wednesday 26 February 2025.
An investigation was established under Strike Force Exter to continue investigations into the driver at the time of the crash.
A critical incident team from Oxley Police District commenced a separate investigation into the death of the boy.
Following inquiries, on Saturday 1 March 2025, two boys – aged 13 and 16 – were taken to Dubbo Police Station after they were released from hospital. The pair were charged and remain before the courts.
Following further inquiries, on Tuesday 6 May 2025, Strike Force detectives arrested the same 16-year-old boy at a home in Bourke.
He was taken to Bourke Police Station where he was charged with the following offences:
- Aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death – escaping pursuit
- Aggravated dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm – escaping pursuit
- Aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence
- Police pursuit – not stop – drive recklessly
- Never licensed person drive vehicle on a road
- Class A motor vehicle exceed speed more than 45km/h – estimated
- Larceny
- Aggravated break and enter dwelling in company intend steal less than or equal to $60000
- Aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence – armed
- Be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner and aggravated break, and
- Enter dwelling in company intend steal less than or equal to $60000.
He was refused bail to appear at children’s court on Tuesday 6 May 2025, where he was formally refused bail to appear at children’s court on Monday 19 May 2025.