Bold claim: An e-bike rider sustained serious head injuries after a police pursuit in southwest Sydney, and he remains in critical condition following a crash that ended with him hitting a telegraph pole. Now, a full review is in motion to understand how this unfolded.
Here’s what happened, clearly: late Saturday night, around 11 p.m., NSW Police attempted to stop a 39-year-old man on Bungulla Street in Sadleir. During the chase, the rider’s e-bike—described by police as lacking pedals—crashed into a footpath telegraph pole with what authorities describe as a significant impact. The man, who police say was not wearing a helmet, sustained substantial head injuries and underwent emergency surgery. He remains in a critical but stable condition.
Police say their officers involved in the pursuit have not yet been interviewed about their actions and choices during the incident.
A critical-incident investigation is underway and will be examined by the Professional Standards Command, under the oversight of the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission.
On the question of why the rider was followed, Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden noted that he could not speak for the officers. He referenced that the rider wasn’t wearing a helmet at the time and acknowledged this might be a factor in how the situation escalated, but emphasized that the police could not discuss specifics about whether the rider was known to officers, or whether there was an ongoing operation, or intelligence that prompted the pursuit.
The inquiry will also assess the proximity of the police vehicle to the rider during the pursuit, whether officers were on patrol, between jobs, or responding to something they observed. Journalists were told that dashcam footage has not been reviewed by McFadden yet, though briefing notes from the lead investigator described the preliminary aspects under review.
Officials say interviews with the officers involved are expected in the coming days, with a focus on the decisions and actions taken during the pursuit and the subsequent crash.
