Fatal Crash After Abandoned Police Pursuit
Fatal Crash After Abandoned Police Pursuit
At around
9.30am this morning Police were called by relatives of a
45
year-old man who reported that he was in an agitated
state, and there were
serious concerns for his
welfare.
Police checks made at the man's home and work failed to locate him.
Shortly before 10am, a vehicle
matching the description of the man's car was
seen by a
Police patrol in Greenhithe. The driver failed to stop for
Police
and a brief pursuit was initiated by Police after
they activated their lights
and sirens.
The pursuit
lasted approximately one minute, but due to concerns for
public
safety, the pursuit was abandoned,and ground units
withdrew from the pursuit.
The Police Eagle Helicopter
observed the car's movements from a distance.
Approximately 25 minutes after the pursuit had been
abandoned, the Eagle
Helicopter saw the car pull into the
driveway of a residential property in
Wairere Road,
Waitakere.
The driver then drove out of the driveway,
and as a Police unit approached
the car from
approximately 300 metres away, he drove off towards
Horsman
Road. The Police unit did not pursue the
vehicle.
Tragically, a short time later, the vehicle
drove down a gravel road at
speed, through a fence and
over a steep paddock, before driving off a bluff
onto
flat ground.
The Eagle helicopter landed in an attempt
to provide first aid however the
driver died at the
scene
The circumstances surrounding the death are
being investigated by Police and
have been referred to
the IPCA.
The man's next of kin are being informed and
his name will not be released
until that process has been
completed.
ENDS