Police have described the deaths of three young women after a short high-speed police chase in Sydney as a tragedy that will change lives forever.
Two people were also seriously injured after the pursuit in Sydney's northwest, which lasted just seconds and came after police attempted to conduct a random breath test.
Officers attempted to pull over the white Holden Commodore in Marayong about 1am on Saturday.
"The car, we would say, sped away and within a matter of seconds collided with a power pole and now we have three females who are deceased," Assistant Commissioner Denis Clifford told reporters on Saturday.
Two of the women died at the scene, while a third woman died in Westmead Hospital.
"I understand the deceased appear to be in their twenties but I don't have any actual ages and they are yet to be identified," Asst Comm Clifford said.
A man and a woman who were also in the car are in a serious but stable condition in hospital.
Asst Comm Clifford described the crash as a real tragedy.
"There's a lot of people that will be very affected by what occurred tonight," he said.
"A lot of lives that will be changed forever."
Police have launched a critical incident investigation, to be overseen by the Professional Standards Command.
