Police were forced to use a helicopter to target a speeding driver on the Castlereagh Highway over the Kings Birthday weekend.

Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander David Driver said it was a bad example of law breaking.

Just before 6am on Friday 6 June 2025, police attempted to stop a stolen 4WD on the Castlereagh Highway, Aarons Pass near Ilford.

When it failed to stop as directed, a pursuit was initiated; however, was terminated shortly after due to safety concerns.

Police later located the vehicle in Dunedoo and initiated a further pursuit, before the 4WD drove onto private property and through multiple wire fences.

The vehicle was later found abandoned, and the driver, a 31-year-old man, was located with assistance from the Police Aviation Command (PolAir).

He was taken to Dubbo Police Station and charged with take and drive conveyance without consent, exceed speed more than 20km/h, drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous, negligent driving, police pursuit - not stop - drive dangerously, destroy or damage property, resist officer in the execution of duty, and possess prohibited drug.

The man was refused bail and appeared before Parramatta Local Court on Saturday 7 June 2025.

Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner David Driver, acknowledged the majority of drivers over this long weekend did abide by the road rules but said there remains a group of road users that continue to break the law and this presents a risk to the whole community.

“Over the past few days of the Kings birthday long weekend, we have seen three people lose their lives and 75 people injured on our roads,” Assistant Commissioner David Driver said.

“Motor vehicle crashes are preventable, however when they occur lives can be lost, and others permanently changed.

“I want to really reiterate the message that driving is a high-risk activity, and all road users need to drive their vehicle with care and attention, and importantly adhere to the road rules,” he said.

Statewide operation's sobering statistics 

Operation Kings Birthday long weekend 2025 commenced at 12am on Friday 6 June and concluded at 11.59pm on Monday 9 June 2025.

Double demerit points were in force for the duration of the operation for speeding, mobile phone, seatbelt, and motorcycle helmet offences.

During the period, police saw a concerning number of dangerous driving incidents, including excessive speed, high-range drink-driving, and reckless driving.

Police issued 4,032 speed infringements, conducted 202,762 breath tests with 275 people charged with drink-driving, 655 positive roadside drug detections after 9,551 random drug tests conducted, and attended 287 major crashes, resulting in 75 people injured.

Three people including a motorcycle rider died on NSW roads over the period, the same number during the operation last year.

There were 399 mobile phone infringements, 221 seatbelt infringements and 6,665 other infringements issued to drivers.