Dog puts bite on forest fugitives in Macedon

Two men were seized by a police dog in a Macedon pine forest after driving into oncoming traffic on the Calder Freeway.

Following a police chase that involved two helicopters from the police air wing last week, a 22-year-old from Fish Creek and a 29-year-old from Wonthaggi were hospitalised for dog bites.

Acting Sergeant Jamie Jordan said the men were wanted for a series of offences in Victoria and New South Wales, including ramming police vehicles in Wonthaggi.

He said when police tried to intercept the men as they drove on the Calder Freeway near Elphinstone, the driver took off on the wrong side of the freeway. Police tracked the vehicle by air as it drove through country roads into Kyneton.

Spikes were deployed on Black Forest Drive in Woodend to stop the car.

With two deflated tyres, the vehicle again entered the wrong side of the Calder Freeway before the men abandoned the car and fled into the Macedon pine plantation.

The chase ended when they were caught separately by a police dog.

Soon afterwards, a 22-year-old woman who had been a passenger in the vehicle turned herself into police.

The chase began about 6.30pm. Three people were taken into police custody just before 9pm.

All three have each been charged with a range of offences and are awaiting court dates.

The two men have been remanded and the woman has been bailed.

Police said four illegal firearms were later found in the vehicle.