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A man is dead and another is in custody after an accident that police have labeled ‘a tragedy beyond belief’.
Police followed a 43-year-old man who they say was driving suspiciously at 4am near the Great Western Highway at St Marys, in Sydney’s west.
They lost sight of the man’s Holden sedan before finding him again after he collided with a Toyota hatchback.
The 49-year-old man in the Toyota received first aid, but subsequently died.
Holden’s driver is said to have fled but was found behind a house.
He was taken to Nepean Hospital and police expect to charge him once he has undergone a drug and alcohol test.
Deputy Commissioner Gavin Wood said the death was “an incredible tragedy”.
One man has died and police declared a critical incident on Tuesday after a crash in Sydney’s west that led to the closure of a major highway (pictured)
“You have an innocent 49-year-old man going to work – he doesn’t go to work, he doesn’t go home, his family doesn’t get to see him,” he told reporters.
“That poor man and his family and friends have had their lives changed by this incident.”
Police were never formally involved in a pursuit, but followed the sedan after they found the driver acting suspiciously.
The driver was disqualified from driving and was “known” to police, Asst Comm Wood said.
The accident and the investigation into the police role in it will now be subject to an independent investigation after a critical incident was declared.
The Holden then hit a silver Toyota Corolla hatchback (pictured), killing the driver
“We have two young police officers doing their job and looking after the community. They form that suspicion and that led to them following the vehicle,” Mr Wood said.
“The circumstances surrounding the threshold of suspicion will form part of that critical investigation.”
