A driver remains under police guard in hospital after his vehicle crashed into a family's vehicle after being hit by police road spikes.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Members of the public had to leap to safety from the silver Mitsubishi Magna in Beechworth on Friday afternoon after the car travelled at high speed through town.
The vehicle crossed onto the wrong side of the road multiple times as it was pursued by police, including the air wing.
One of the vehicle's tyres was deflated, but the car continued to drive on rims with sparks flying.
It travelled onto the wrong side of the Chiltern-Beechworth Road and crashed into an oncoming Kia minivan with children inside.
Detective Senior Constable Ray Causer said the 28-year-old Magna driver was trapped in the vehicle after the crash, with police seeking witnesses to the man's driving.
"He required SES assistance to be removed from the car," he said.
"He was conveyed to the Albury Base Hospital under guard.
"He's received injuries to his torso and right leg."
The man will have to be extradited from NSW to Victoria once he has recovered.
The vehicle, which had no number plates, had been seen driving erratically in Wangaratta about 3pm and travelled on the Great Alpine Road at a fast rate of speed.
Officers tried to intercept the car but it continued on the Beechworth-Wangaratta Road, crossing double lines well in excess of the speed limit.
Road spikes were used near Beechworth, which deflated one tyre.
The car travelled to the Chiltern-Beechworth Road before crashing.
IN OTHER NEWS:
Detective Senior Constable Causer said a large number of people would have seen the car.
"Police are concerned about the manner in which the vehicle was driven," he said.
"There was a disregard of the road rules, disregard of the indication from police to stop and there were injuries caused by his driving."
The family in the Kia were treated by paramedics at the scene but weren't seriously injured.
A 19-year-old man and 16-year-old boy in the Magna were taken to Wangaratta hospital and have since been released.
A 24-year-old woman in the car was taken to Albury hospital and has also been released.
Any witnesses can contact their local police station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Wodonga police can be contacted on (02) 6049 2600, Beechworth on (03) 5728 1032 and Wangaratta on (03) 5723 0888.