A high-speed police pursuit spanning the Queensland and New South Wales border concluded tragically early Sunday morning, with a man dying after his vehicle crashed down an embankment near Kunghur.

Authorities have launched a critical incident investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal event, which saw officers from both states involved in tracking the alleged armed individual.

The incident commenced around 1:00 AM on Sunday when New South Wales police were alerted by their Queensland counterparts about a male driver, reportedly armed with a firearm, who had crossed the state border following a pursuit in his home state. NSW officers quickly located the man driving a utility vehicle at Banora Point, just south of the border. When the driver failed to stop for police, a pursuit was initiated.

The chase continued through several local suburbs, with officers successfully deploying road spikes against the Ford utility twice in South Murwillumbah. Despite the deployment of these devices, the driver continued to evade police. The pursuit eventually concluded approximately 26 kilometres south-west of Murwillumbah on Kyogle Road, Kunghur, around 2:00 AM, when the vehicle veered off the road and came to a stop down an embankment.

Following the vehicle's halt, police established a perimeter around the scene and deployed negotiators in an attempt to engage with the driver. However, upon approaching the vehicle, officers discovered the man unconscious inside. Immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was commenced by the attending officers, but sadly, the man was pronounced deceased at the scene.

While formal identification is still underway, authorities believe the deceased is a 25-year-old man from Queensland. A firearm was located within the vehicle and has been secured for forensic examination as part of the ongoing investigation.

Critical Incident Investigation Underway

In response to the fatality, NSW Police has declared a critical incident. A dedicated team from the Richmond Police District will lead the investigation into the full circumstances surrounding the incident, including the police response. The findings of this internal investigation will be compiled into a report for the information of the NSW Coroner.

Further oversight will be provided through an independent review of the investigation findings by both the Professional Standards Command and the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission, ensuring transparency and accountability in the police actions leading up to the man's death.