Police have launched a critical incident investigation after a man died while fleeing police on the New South Wales Far North Coast.
Police say they tried to stop a vehicle in Byron Bay's industrial estate about 5.40pm yesterday after noticing it was being driven erratically.
It is alleged the man did not pull over and instead continued onto the northbound M1 Motorway, where he was pursued by police.
Road spikes were deployed near Cudgera Creek.
Police said the man got out of his car when the vehicle slowed down on the M1 near Clothiers Creek in the Tweed Shire.
"The initial information I have is that he exited the vehicle while it was still moving but had slowed," NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna.
"[He] ran to the other side of the highway where he was subsequently hit by two other vehicles travelling southbound."
The man died at the scene and has not been formally identified, but Assistant Commissioner McKenna said they believed the man was known to the police.
A crime scene was established to be forensically examined by officers from the Crash Investigation unit.
The man's vehicle was set to undergo searching and forensic examination on Friday.
Assistant Commissioner McKenna said the drivers of the other two vehicles were "not involved" in the matter until they hit the man.
They were subsequently taken for routine drug and alcohol testing and had also been offered support for their own welfare.
Police said its critical incident team will investigate the matter.
Assistant Commissioner McKenna said the independent investigations would include why the police chose to stop the man's vehicle and whether drugs or alcohol were involved.
The investigation will also be subject to an independent review, and all information will also be provided to the coroner.
The motorway was closed in both directions overnight but reopened in the early hours of this morning.
