Fleeing hoon injures woman, 70, five police

A NSW man has fronted court after an alleged burnout led to the driver hitting a car and five police officers as he tried to avoid arrest.

The 30-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was filmed reversing at high speed towards officers in hot pursuit on the main street of Murwillumbah on NSW north coast yesterday.

In the footage, he rams into a car with an 80-year-old man and his wife, 70, inside, before taking off again.

Officers on foot dive out of the way, before they catch up and finally make an arrest.

"It happened very quickly the police were in control of the situation, of an uncontrollable situation," senior constable Anthony Atkins told Nine News.

"Even those with injuries continued on until this person was safely arrested, the community was safe and further."

The elderly woman was taken to Murwillumbah Hospital for further treatment with a suspected fractured sternum.

The officers sustained only minor injuries.

A police media statement said the incident started when patrolling officers allegedly spotted a Hyundai Excel sedan perform a burnout.

As they approached the car, the driver sped off before reversing towards them, according to the statement.

The suspect fronted a Byron Bay court today charged with several counts of assaulting police and using a car as a weapon to avoid arrest.

Source: The Echo, Nine News
Author: Chloe Ross, Approving editor: Martin Zavan