Fleeing driver dies at crash scene

At around 9.14am this morning Whanganui Police attempted to stop a vehicle in Great North Road, Whanganui.

The driver failed to stop and a pursuit was initiated.

Seconds later the fleeing driver hit a cyclist.

The driver continued to flee however the pursuit was immediately abandoned and officers stayed with the injured cyclist as other Police patrols went into search mode to see if the vehicle could be located.

The cyclist was taken by ambulance to hospital in a status 3 condition, the cyclist is conscious and has injuries that are described as non life-threatening.

A short time later the vehicle was seen again and again the driver failed to stop for Police.

Officers deployed road spikes on Rapanui Road in an attempt to stop the car, however the car attempted to drive around the spikes and in doing so it smashed into a culvert.

The vehicle accelerated away from the culvert and continued to drive for a distance of around two kilometres, where a second set of road spikes had been deployed.

In a further attempt to avoid the spikes the vehicle has driven into a large truck which was stationary on Tayforth Road.

The car caught fire, and the driver died at the scene.

The driver of the truck is shaken but is not injured.

A number of specialist Police staff including CIB are at the scene and a scene examination is underway.

An investigation into the circumstances of this morning's events has been launched, and as is routine, an investigation into the pursuit will also be carried out.

The IPCA has been informed.

Police are now in the process of identifying the driver and informing his next of kin.

ENDS

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