Man shot dead by police, critical incident declared

A man has been fatally shot by police after crashing his car into a tree on Sunday afternoon.

Just before 3pm, police were called to Rugby, a town 84 kilometres north of Yass, which had a population of 83 in the last census, following reports a car had driven into a tree.

On arrival at Corringle Lane, which appears to be an unpaved dirt track in online map imagery, officers found a Chrysler station wagon crashed into a tree.

The driver appeared to be unconscious in the front of the car.

According to police media, officers then approached the man and attempted to render aid.

The man – who is believed to be aged 45 but who has not yet been formally identified – then allegedly aimed a rifle at officers before being shot by police.

Officers immediately commenced CPR on the driver, but he died at the scene.

A crime scene has been established and a critical incident team from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad will investigate the circumstances surrounding this incident.

The investigation will be the subject of an independent review by the Professional Standards Command and will be overseen by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission.

“By monitoring critical incident investigations, we can make sure that the police investigation is competent, thorough and objective,” the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission website reads.

“We hope that this is some comfort to the family of the person who has died or was injured, and to the public.”

No police were injured during the shooting.

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