Ben Biffin, 37, absconded from the hospital before fleeing along the Golden Highway in a Ford Ranger he is alleged to have stolen from the Charles Sturt University campus.

He, along with a 36-year-old man, had been arrested on Wednesday evening near Mudgee in relation to some outstanding warrants, and transported to Dubbo Hospital with minor injuries.

But somehow Biffin was able to walk out of the hospital around 8am on Thursday.

Police engaged in multiple pursuits with the escapee but aborted on several occasions as speeds increased.

Ultimately, after traversing along the Castlereagh Highway, Henry Lawson Drive and other roads in the area, Biffin stopped the vehicle in Market Street and fled the scene.

Police shut down a section of the town, centred around Market and Court Streets and including a nearby childcare centre, as they tried to track him down.

Parents of children at the centre were sent text messages to inform them that the centre was in lockdown but that children were safe and normal policies were being followed.

Officers responded to reported sightings that spanned towards Glen Willow Sporting Complex, and a Polair helicopter provided aerial assistance.

“There have been a couple of reported sightings and we encourage the community to keep coming forward with information,” Orana Mid-Western investigations manager Detective Sergeant Mark Meredith said.

“He has very strong ties to the Mudgee area, but we would encourage people if they do sight him not to engage and to call Triple 0 or the Mudgee Police Station.”

Meanwhile, the man who was also arrested on Wednesday evening and is accused of assaulting a police officer, appeared in Dubbo Local Court on Thursday and was bail refused.