AN investigation team are working to piece together why a man didn't stop for a road side breath test, with resulting actions leaving him in a serious condition in hospital.
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On Sunday evening around 10.40pm, police officers attempted to stop a 31-year-old man for a random breath test on the Mitchell Highway south of Narromine.
The driver failed to stop and a pursuit was initiated.
The pursuit was terminated after officers lost sight of the vehicle, however police continued along the highway and shortly after found the vehicle crashed and rolled in Webbs Reserve near High Park Road.
The man had suffered serious head injuries and was treated at the scene before being airlifted to hospital.
Western Region Commander Assistant Commissioner Geoff McKechnie said it was unclear as to why the man didn't stop.
"It's not apparent that he was wanted for any other offence other than something traffic related," Assist Comm McKechnie said.
A critical incident team from Central North Police District are investigating the circumstances around the incident.
"When life threatening injuries occur in the course, or as a result of a police operation a critical incident investigation is conducted around the circumstances.
"It's early days but the indications at this stage are that police had been involved in a short pursuit and that pursuit had ended and they continued in the same direction as the vehicle and came across the collision."
Assist Comm McKechnie said the message for people is to 'just stop'.
"Just pull over. How bad can it be when the ultimate cost of not is that you or someone else might not survive.
"Even on this occassion we have a man who is badly injured, and at the end of the day we will get to the reasons why he didn't stop, but at this stage it's not apparent."
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