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🇦🇺 Australia /Crime & Justice

Man dies after police pursuit over Queensland and NSW border

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Under investigation
  • A man died in northern New South Wales following a police pursuit that crossed the Queensland border.
  • Police attempted to stop the man, who was allegedly armed, but he continued driving until his vehicle went down an embankment.
  • A critical incident investigation has been launched by NSW Police to examine the officers' response, with findings to be independently reviewed.

A man has died in northern New South Wales after a police pursuit that originated in Queensland and crossed the border. New South Wales Police reported that officers were alerted by Queensland police around 1 a.m. on Sunday, July 19, 2026, about a man allegedly armed with a firearm who had traveled south across the border following a pursuit in his home state.

The pursuit continued through multiple nearby suburbs before road spikes were successfully deployed against the Ford twice in South Murwillumbah.

— NSW Police spokespersonDescribing the police pursuit and the deployment of road spikes.

Officers located the man driving a utility vehicle in Banora Point. A pursuit ensued when the man failed to stop for the police. The chase continued through several nearby suburbs before road spikes were successfully deployed twice against the Ford vehicle in South Murwillumbah. Despite these measures, the man continued to evade police, driving until his vehicle eventually stopped after descending an embankment on Kyogle Road in Kunghur, approximately 26 kilometers southwest of Murwillumbah, around 2 a.m. today.

The man continued to drive from police until finally stopping down an embankment on Kyogle Road, Kunghur, about 26 kilometres south-west of Murwillumbah, about 2am today.

— NSW Police spokespersonDetailing the final moments of the pursuit before the vehicle went down an embankment.

Following the vehicle's stop, police established a perimeter and deployed negotiators. However, as officers approached the Ford, they discovered the driver unconscious. Police immediately began CPR, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities believe the deceased to be a 25-year-old man from Queensland, though he has not yet been formally identified. A firearm was recovered from the vehicle and will undergo forensic examination.

Officers immediately commenced CPR on the man; however, he died at the scene.

— NSW Police spokespersonReporting the immediate response by officers and the man's death.

In response to the incident, NSW Police has initiated a critical incident investigation to scrutinize the actions of the officers involved. A team from the Richmond Police District will lead this investigation, and a report will be prepared for the NSW Coroner. The findings will subsequently undergo an independent review by the Professional Standards Command and the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission.

A critical incident team from Richmond Police District will lead the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident and a report will be prepared for the information of the NSW Coroner.

— NSW Police spokespersonExplaining the process of the critical incident investigation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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