Fatality after cop chase

A MAN has died after his car hit a tree following a police pursuit in northern NSW.

Police spotted the 22-yearold man speeding at Tweed Heads about 9.30am on Thursday and began their pursuit. They called it off a short time later after the manner of driving made it too dangerous, police say. The car was later found to have left the road and crashed into a tree, leaving the driver with significant injuries.

He was taken to Tweed Heads Hospital but died.

The news came as NSW’s top cop said it was important to have a debate about police pursuits, while warning that restricting them would give criminals a green light.

Police Commissioner Mick Fuller’s comments were in response to a pledge by Bert Vieira – the husband of Sydney woman Gai Vieira, whose Mercedes was T-boned by a speeding police car – to dedicate his life to ending highspeed pursuits in the state.

The commissioner yesterday warned the move could have serious consequences.

“If you’re at home alone and someone’s breaking into your house and you call triplezero you don’t care about policy and you don’t care about red tape – you want the police to get there quickly and safely to protect you,” Mr Fuller said.

“There’s a price to pay for public safety but it’s important we continue to debate police tactics versus public safety.”