Police to probe two deaths declared critical incidents

The deaths of two people were declared a critical incident, putting the police officers who responded to the incident under the spotlight.

Both men died shortly on Tuesday morning following separate police interventions in regional NSW.

The first involved a 59-year-old man who died from a self-inflicted wound after being chased on a property in the north of the state.

Officers were called to a property in Walgett at around 8pm on Monday following reports of concerns for the man’s welfare.

He was not found and was eventually tracked to a separate property north of town.

The man drove off and collided with a police vehicle before the pursuit was called off for safety reasons.

At around 8.30am on Tuesday, police investigated a property north of Walgett following reports that his vehicle had been seen.

The 59-year-old man was found with a firearm next to a vehicle.

Expert sources arrived at the scene and negotiators tried to talk to the man.

A gunshot was discharged just before 11 a.m. and although officers treated the man for self-inflicted wounds, he could not be resuscitated.

The second incident involved a police pursuit in the southern part of the state.

Police spotted a Mitsubishi while patrolling the Mid-West Highway in Rankins Springs, north of Griffith, around 10:55 a.m. Tuesday.

Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, which had South Australian registration plates, and a pursuit ensued.

Police said the vehicle crossed the road and collided head-on with another vehicle.

The male Mitsubishi driver died at the scene, while the female driver of the second vehicle was taken to hospital in serious but stable condition.

Following both incidents, crime scenes were established and investigations were conducted by critical incident teams.

Investigations will be reviewed by the Professional Standards Command under the supervision of the Law Enforcement Commission and reports will be prepared for the coroner.