The Independent Police Conduct Authority is deciding whether to investigate a police chase that came seconds before a Tauranga teen was killed as his car plunged over the edge of an Oropi bank.
Levi Green, 18, has been described as ''a lovely young man'' who had a fascination with cars.
He was the driver and sole occupant of a Nissan Cefiro that plunged down the side of a 10-metre bank on Friday night.
Officers had been called to a birthday party at Oropi, near Tauranga, where about 150 people had gathered.
We loved him, he was a good boy who just loves his cars. He was such a lovely young man.
Police said about a dozen people had gatecrashed and a fight broke out.
One person was struck by a car and two people fled to a neighbouring property, where a resident said they appeared to be fearing for their lives.
The car involved in the fatal crash was not the vehicle that had struck the partygoer.
Police had spotted Mr Green driving along Mountain Rd with a broken tail light and signalled for him to pull over, but he had sped off and within seconds disappeared over a bank.
Mr Green was thrown clear of the wreckage but died on the way to Tauranga Hospital.
Resident Rodolfo Palma said he looked out of his bedroom window to see crowds from the nearby party gather on the road where the car went off the bank.
"About 80 people came out and see [the car] had fallen down the bank." Mr Green was described as a "good boy" who had a fascination with cars.
A family friend said: "We loved him, he was a good boy who just loves his cars. He was such a lovely young man."
The woman said her son was friends with Mr Green.
"He was a good boy and the whanau will be hurting."
Flowers at the scene where Tauranga teen Levi Green died after a police pursuit. Photo/Andrew Warner
Mr Green's girlfriend Tahlia Mellor shared her grief on Facebook, saying: "Sitting here not even knowing what to write. It still doesn't feel real, it never does. I love you for ever & ever. Forever in my heart you will be my darling. Rest easy Levi Green."
Friends posted more tributes. Penny Blamire said she was "so saddened by the news", while Charlotte Richmond said Mr Green was "gone way too soon".
Makayla Morris posted: "R.I.P levi green, feel blessed to of known you! you were taken from friends family and loved ones way too soon." Bonnie Parker, who described Mr Green as her "first love", said she felt "so empty right now".
"Too young, i will always have a place in my heart for u an all our memories," she said.
Her friend Clara Goodhew said: "I know how much he ment to you and everyone, its so heartbreaking to see everyone hurt."
They weren't hoons, nothing like that. There wasn't a lot of booze. It was going to be a nice party.
A couple who live at the property where their grandson was hosting the party said the partygoers "were good kids".
"It was a responsible party. They're nice kids.
"They weren't hoons, nothing like that. There wasn't a lot of booze. It was going to be a nice party."
After the altercation with the gatecrashers, parents of the children came to pick them up.
Meanwhile, Mathew Biddick, who was staying at a Mountain Rd property about 3km away, said he was woken by two males who had fled the party, claiming they were being chased and asking for help.
"They ran up and knocked on the door and they were saying, 'Please can you help us, can you help us' and kind of begging for their lives in a way," said Mr Biddick.
Mr Biddick said a parent of one of the males collected her son and police were interviewing the other in relation to a vehicle that struck another partygoer.
Serious crash investigators were working on the incident yesterday.
