Detectives and forensic investigators spent most of Wednesday morning examining a scene on Scott Street, where a man had a fatal crash about 3am following a pursuit along Hunter Street.

NSW Police said Newcastle City officers had been patrolling the CBD in the early hours of Wednesday morning when they attempted to stop a motorcycle on Hunter Street near Steel Street.

The rider failed to stop, resulting in a short pursuit that officers terminated a few minutes later due to safety concerns, police said.

"The motorcycle continued to travel along Hunter Street before being found crashed on Scott Street, after hitting a pole," NSW Police said in a statement.

"Officers rendered first aid; however, the male rider died at the scene."

Police confirmed on Wednesday evening the deceased man was from Cameron Park.

Friends of the man said he was 35 years old.

His name is not yet known.

While police did not say how fast the bike was travelling, CCTV footage appeared to show a motorcycle travelling at high speed in the eastbound lane of Hunter Street.

The crash left a trail of destruction along the mixed-running section of Scott Street with debris sprawled along the road.

The motorcycle stopped about 80 metres away from where it collided with a pole to the east of the Queens Wharf light rail stop.

As detectives continued their investigation of the scene on Wednesday, a tow truck arrived about 9.15am to remove the damaged bike, which was about 20 metres beyond where the man's body remained under the cover of a police tent.

City of Newcastle staff also arrived shortly after to remove damaged kerbside infrastructure, including a smart poles that had been snapped in two and ripped from its secured footing.

Hunter Street resident Karen Burge said she was awoken by the early morning incident.

"I heard the sound of metal scraping along metal and then the accelerator of a motorbike stuck on," she said on Wednesday morning.

"I felt like it was a mishap on the tram lines. It's a sad way to start the day given someone has lost their life."

Port Stephens-Hunter police will conduct the critical incident investigation. Their findings will be subject to an independent review.

All information will be provided to the coroner.

Anyone with information of the incident is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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