Police have launched a critical incident investigation after a 60-year-old man died in a crash at Cessnock on Thursday.
Hunter Valley police were looking for the man about noon when he allegedly drove away from officers at speed on Richmond Vale Road and crashed into a tree.
Officers performed CPR on the driver, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, until paramedics arrived but the man died at the scene.
Read more: Newcastle-Hunter police news
A crime scene was established and the Crash Investigation Unit forensically examined the area.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District will look into the circumstances of the crash as part of the critical incident investigation.
That investigation will be subject to an independent review and will be monitored by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission.
Anyone with information that may assist is urged to come forward.
