Minutes later, they spotted it again in Mayfair Drive, only moments before it crashed into an on-coming Mazda, driven by a woman with her children, 13 and 16 on board.

While the car involved in the pursuit was badly damaged, its driver drove on before dumping his car in Campaspe Street.

Police then chased the man on foot as he jumped several house fences.

They arrested him back in Mayfair Drive.

The drama started at 6.40pm when police pulled over two young men for a routine check in Brockley Street.

The driver sped off before police had finished talking to him.

Police then chased the man’s Holden Commodore through several streets before losing sight of it in Dundee Drive.

He was sighted again in Mayfair Drive before he crashed.

Police last night charged a Wodonga man 23, with several traffic offences.

The shocked driver of the Mazda was uninjured but her car was also a write-off.

Wodonga police sergeant Tony Chamberlain said he didn’t know why the man had fled in the first place.

Any witnesses can call police on (02) 6049 2600 or Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.