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Man arrested following Prince Street crash

Emma Pritchard

A man was arrested following two dramatic scenes in Grafton on April 21.

Around 3:30pm, officers from the Coffs/Clarence Police District responded to reports a 35-year-old man had been struck by a vehicle in Duke St.

It is alleged the man had been involved in an altercation with a 38-year-old man who proceeded to enter a black Holden Colorado utility and drove towards the younger man before colliding with him.

The 38-year-old man fled the scene when officers arrived, and a police pursuit was initiated.

The driver approached the roundabout at Prince Street and Dobie Street at speed before the vehicle clipped the edge of the roundabout and mounted the curb before it rolled and subsequently, crashed into a Jacaranda tree in front of nearby houses.

The force of the impact resulted in one of the vehicles wheels coming to rest more than 50m away from the crash site, and some residents claimed they heard the accident from several streets away.  

Officers rendered first aid to the driver before NSW Ambulance paramedics arrived.

The man was later transported to Coffs Harbour Health Campus under police guard.

The younger man who was injured in Duke Street was also transported to Coffs Harbour Health Campus where he was treated for fractures to his lumbar and ribs.

Following his release from hospital, the 38-year-old man was taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station where he was charged with outstanding warrants including two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm (DV), common assault (DV), knowingly drive vehicle in manner menaces other, and stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm (domestic).

He was refused bail and appeared in Coffs Harbour Local Court late last week.

The 35-year-old man remains in hospital as he continues to recover from his injuries.

Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident are continuing, and further charges are expected to be laid.