Update
A MAN and a woman have been arrested after police allege a wild pursuit through Newcastle ended in a fiery crash this morning.
Just after 10.30am, specialist command officers tried to stop a white SUV on Fowler Street at Hamilton South.
When the car allegedly failed to stop as directed, police initiated a pursuit which was terminated a short time later due to safety concerns.
PolAir was brought in to help and the vehicle was tracked to Sygna Close at Rankin Park where a passenger got out of the vehicle.
Police found a 26-year-old woman nearby who was taken to Waratah Police Station and has since been taken to hospital for assessment.
The car kept going before it left the road and crashed on McCaffrey Drive, where it burst into flames and was extinguished by Fire and Rescue NSW firefighters about 11.30am.
An eyewitness detailed a terrifying near-miss with the flaming car, as the driver allegedly tried to evade police.
"As it drove past us a guy was hanging out the passenger side window of the car that was completely engulfed in flames," she said.
"He swerved off the road, mounted the sidewalk and drove into the bush - crashing into a tree.
"As he crashed the car exploded and pieces went flying, we thought pieces of him went flying, but he was ejected out of the window and was laying on the ground."
The eyewitness said her and her partner were driving along the street as a mix of about 10 highway patrol, marked and unmarked police cars 'flew' through the streets with PolAir hovering overhead.
"We came around the corner and I saw another car come flying from behind, which I assumed was another police car and it was approaching us really quick," she said.
"He was hanging out the passenger side but still driving the car, it was crazy."
The driver, a 27-year-old man, was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics and taken to John Hunter Hospital in a serious but stable condition.
Police have established a crime scene and have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Anyone with information or dashcam footage is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Earlier
A POLICE pursuit through several suburbs of Newcastle has ended in flames, after the driver of an alleged stolen vehicle crashed into bushland at New Lambton.
Emergency services, including paramedics, police and NSW Fire and Rescue, were called to McCaffrey Drive about 11.30am Thursday December 7 to reports of a fire.
On arrival at the scene fire fighters found a vehicle fully engulfed in flames, which had spread to surrounding bushland.
The driver was reportedly injured in the crash and was taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment.
Newcastle Herald understands the crash occurred during a pursuit where the driver was allegedly fleeing police. NSW Police has been contacted and is expected to release a public statement about the incident later today. The driver's condition is unknown at this stage.
