BY IAN CROUCH

A teenager is expected to be charged after crashing an allegedly stolen car during a pursuit at Charlestown overnight.

Police spotted a Nissan X-TRAIL, which had earlier been reported stolen from Belmont, travelling at speed on the Pacific Highway just before midnight on Thursday and began following the vehicle when the driver failed to stop.

The car failed to negotiate a left hand bend on Madison Drive at Adamstown Heights, crashing into 3 parked cars and a house.

A 19-year-old male from Windale who was behind the wheel was released and arrested with the help of a police dog as the car caught fire – officers quickly doused the flames.

He was taken to the John Hunter Hospital with non-life threatening injuries and remains there in a stable condition.

He’s expected to be served a court attendance notice for Police Pursuit, Stolen Vehicle, Unlicensed Driving and having goods in custody suspected of being stolen.