Teens shot by police in Sydney

A 29-year-old woman was run over by a teenage driver in Kings Cross. Photo / File

A 14-year-old driver and an 18-year-old passenger were shot by police after driving a car onto a crowded footpath in Sydney's red light district to escape pursuing officers who had recognised the vehicle and its young male occupants.

The shooting happened just after 4am (local time) on Saturday on Darlinghurst Rd at Potts Point, near the intersection with Bayswater Rd.

Police say a stolen Honda Civic sedan was driven onto the crowded footpath and struck a female pedestrian, pinning her under the car.

"People literally jumped for their lives," Assistant Commissioner Mark Murdoch told reporters in Sydney on Saturday morning.

"Police pursued that vehicle on the footpath by foot, they attempted to stop the vehicle.

"That vehicle struck a female pedestrian. That female pedestrian was pushed under the front of the vehicle.

"In an attempt to protect that person they discharged a number of shots into the vehicle.

"Whether that decision turned out to be the right decision is a matter for the critical investigation team ... My advice is that the police has little other option."

The 14-year-old driver was hit once in the chest and once in the arm and the 18-year-old passenger was shot once in the neck.

The men were not armed at the time.

Assistant Commissioner Murdoch said the two constables recognised the Redfern youths driving the car.

"The police recognised the vehicle, they recognised the people in the car," he said.

"I would suggest given the driver of the vehicle was 14, that's probably a good reason why they approached the car.

"As they approached the car, it is my information that the people in the car saw the police approaching, they've taken action to avoid apprehension."

Four other males, aged between 13 to 24, were in the back seat of the car at the time.

They were unharmed and are currently at Kings Cross Police Station being interviewed by officers.

Assistant Commissioner Murdoch said all of the injured were being treated at St Vincent's Hospital.

The driver is in a serious but stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery while the passenger has non-life threatening injuries.

The 29-year-old woman who was run over by the car has chest injuries and is being treated.

-AAP