A critical incident investigation has been launched after a woman died in a car crash soon after police called off a pursuit of the vehicle she was travelling in on Thursday.
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Cootamundra police attempted to stop a Holden stationwagon on the Olympic Way at Cootamundra around 7pm on Thursday.
When the driver of the vehicle allegedly failed to stop, police officers initiated a pursuit that continued along the Olympic Way towards Wallendbeen.
The pursuit was eventually terminated “for safety reasons”.
Not long after the pursuit was called off, police discovered the stationwagon, crashed into a culvert near Wallendoon Lane.
The female rear-seat passenger – believed to be a 20-year-old Cootamundra woman - died at the scene.
The male driver and front-seat female passenger were not seriously injured and taken to hospital as a precaution. The driver will now undergo mandatory blood and urine testing.
The Olympic Highway was in both directions overnight as police and emergency teams worked at the crash site.
The road was reopened and diversions lifted shortly before 6am on Friday.
A critical incident team from the Goulburn Local Area Command has been formed to investigate the circumstances surrounding the pursuit and crash.
That investigation will be overseen by the Professional Standards Command and all information will be provided to the coroner.
Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward, asking anyone who can assist to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.