Around 10am police received information that a 31-year-old Macksville man was armed with a knife and there were concerns for his welfare.

Further information was received that the male was driving a yellow Holden utility and had just left a service station on the Pacific Highway doing several burnouts in the process.

Numerous witnesses reported seeing the vehicle on the incorrect side of the highway, causing semi-trailers and other traffic to take action to avoid a collision.

Detectives located the vehicle in Matilda St, but when they approached the vehicle the man has allegedly driven at the police car - narrowly missing it.

It is alleged he did another burnout before driving through a set of red traffic lights causing a semi trailer to brake harshly to avoid a collision.

A short time later the accused’s vehicle has allegedly stalled on the highway and the driver fled into a nearby hotel with police in a foot pursuit.

The male has run from the hotel towards the road while allegedly yelling and screaming at the vehicles stopped on the highway.

When again challenged by the police to stop, the accused has stopped and was handcuffed while lying in the middle of the north bound lanes of the highway.

Two large stainless steel knives were allegedly located on the bench seat next to where the man was seated.

The accused was taken to the Macksville Police Station.

Numerous witnesses contacted police regarding the accused’s driving through three sets of red traffic lights and crossing onto the incorrect side of the road.

He was unlicensed and the vehicle he was driving was unregistered. The man was charged with police pursuit-not stop-drive dangerously, use offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention, resist officer in execution of duty, custody of knife in public place, drive unlicensed and unregistered vehicle.