A teenage driver is in the John Hunter Hospital under police guard after a high speed crash in Shortland overnight.
Police spotted the silver Toyota Camry driving at speed along Sandgate Road shortly after midnight.
The 16-year-old driver left the road, hit a kerb and ploughed into a tree after officers activated their lights.
He was able to free himself from the wreckage and is in a stable condition.
Image: NSW Police Force