Man accused of stabbing pregnant woman amid high-speed chase

A man who is accused of stabbing a pregnant woman and leading police on a 200km chase involving a series of violent carjackings has been shot by police.

Police allege 25-year-old Hervey Bay man Dylan Hammond was armed with a knife when he forced a man out of his Holden Colorado ute on Watson Street in Hervey Bay, outside the Hervey Bay Hotel, and drove to Tinana in Maryborough.

He allegedly then broke into a home on Three Mile Road West just before 8am where he demanded a car from a woman inside the home.

The woman, understood to be pregnant and home alone with her 14-year-old son, suffered a stab wound to her hand in the struggle before Mr Hammond allegedly fired a gun.

9News has been told by the woman's husband she was so determined he would not steal her car or hurt her family that she used her fists to fight him off before smashing a wooden box over his face.

Increasingly desperate, Mr Hammond fled to a home on River Road where he allegedly demanded the keys to a white sedan from a male resident.

He allegedly continued to drive south at speed along the Bruce Highway before crashing through roadworks south of Tiaro.

Police say they spoke with Mr Hammond on several occasions but were not able to negotiate an end to the chase.

Polair tracked the vehicle as it travelled south and it was intercepted at Parklands by heavily armed officers who opened fire.

Mr Hammond was shot in the upper leg and was also hit by a passing caravan. He was taken to hospital in a serious condition with a police escort.

He is in a serious but stable condition and police have not yet been able to speak with him. Charges have not yet been laid.

The Bruce Highway was closed following the shooting but has since reopened.

The Criminal Investigations Branch and Forensic Crash Unit is investigating.

Ethical Standards Command has also commenced a critical incident investigation into the police response, overseen by the Crime and Corruption Commission.