Overview

• Officers first spotted the red Mazda parked on the Great Western Highway at Bowenfels before the driver fled and outran two brief pursuits halted for safety.
• A police helicopter and highway patrol tracked the Mazda to Penrith where spikes on Castlereagh and Cranebrook roads triggered its collision with a Toyota SUV, Sprinter van and Hyundai.
• The 33-year-old driver ran from the crash scene, was arrested nearby and treated for serious head injuries at Westmead Hospital where he remains in critical condition under guard.
• Checks revealed he was wanted on two outstanding domestic violence warrants, prompting the initial traffic stop and intensifying scrutiny of the pursuit.
• Authorities established a crime scene and declared a critical incident, with the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission reviewing the police response and procedure compliance.