By ANEEKA SIMONIS
POLICE, including Special Operations Group officers (SOG), swarmed Officer South earlier this week in search of a man who dumped his crashed car and fled into surrounding farmland after a police pursuit.
Pakenham Senior Sergeant Nathan Prowd said police patrolling the Cardinia area attempted to intercept the driver about 7.30am on Monday 13 April – but he took off, sparking a brief police chase.
Police called off the pursuit as the man turned onto unsealed Patterson Road where the man lost control of his blue sedan and crashed.
“Police called off the search well before the collision due to safety reasons,” Sen Sgt Prowd said.
The car was found abandoned with a smashed windscreen and torn-off bumper bar by police, prompting a wide-spread search.
“It appears as if he’s fled through adjoining farmland around Patterson and Officer South roads,” Sen Sgt Prowd said.
He said it is likely the man suffered injuries as a result of the crash which left his car badly damaged.
“It looks like the person would have injured themselves,” Sen Sgt Prowd said.
The Police Dog Squad and masked SOG officers, along with police from Pakenham, Bunyip, Emerald and Narre Warren flooded the area in search for the man wanted for evading police.
He has not yet been found.
Sen Sgt Prowd said it is unclear why the male driver fled from police but the matter is under investigation.
“We have taken his car in for examination and will search the interior of the car as part of that examination,” he said.
Police believe the car was involved in a collision before the Officer South crash which caused the road to be closed off for part of the morning.
If anyone has any information about the incident, contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
