A BENALLA woman who drove her car along a footpath, narrowly missing shoppers, before being chased by police was stressed out by Christmas, officers believe.
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A man crossing Bridge Street narrowly avoided being hit by the 40-year-old, who had been driving with her two children.
The woman had been involved in an argument at Benalla CVGT on Christmas Eve and smashed a television at the business.
She got into her car and drove down the footpath on Carrier Street which was crowded with people doing Christmas shopping.
Police in an unmarked vehicle tried to intercept the woman, who drove on Bridge Street hitting speeds about 100km/h.
Sgt Jeffrey Kyne said he thought the man crossing Bridge Street near Faithfull Street was going to be hit by the woman.
“I thought he was going to be run over,” he said.
“She approached him at high speed and she had to swerve to avoid him.
“I think a lot of people are under pressure at this time of year — Christmas makes us all more busier — which is probably sometimes reflected in our driving.
“We wouldn’t normally drive this way, but the pressure of Christmas brings out the pressure in people.”
Sgt Kyne said the woman had shown “genuine remorse” after being arrested on Balantine Street about 11am.
The pursuit lasted about 1½ minutes over three kilometres, but no one was injured.
The woman is facing charges including reckless conduct likely to cause serious injury, evade police, drive in a dangerous manner, exceeding the speed limit and criminal damage.
“I think we’ve all got to be a bit more tolerant at this time of year,” Sgt Kyne said.
She will appear in court at a later date.
