About 2pm Friday, an officer from the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command was driving along the Princes Highway at Yatte Yattah, when he saw a Holden Commodore sedan travelling in the opposite direction.

Checks revealed the vehicle was unregistered and the officer conducted a U-Turn, and indicated for the driver to stop.

The 22-year-old male driver began to pull over, before allegedly accelerating away at high speed.

Police began a pursuit with the vehicle that was terminated minutes later near Fishermans Paradise.

Shortly after, the officer was alerted by members of the public of a vehicle hitting a tree nearby on the Princes Highway at Jerrawangala.

Police attended the scene and found the 22-year-old man lying in bushland about 40 metres from the crash site.

He was airlifted to St George Hospital where he remains in a critical but stable condition.

Anyone who witnessed the accident is urged to contact Shoalhaven Local Area Command or Crime Stoppers.

Inquiries continue.