A man is facing charges after a go-kart joy ride resulted in a police pursuit and arrest at a restaurant drive-thru.
The 21-year-old man was apprehended after speeding through Hastings CBD and mounting a footpath outside the newly-opened Carl's Jr restaurant before being cornered by officers in the busy drive-thru about 6pm.
It is understood he stopped only after the chain became dislodged from his cart.
Three police cars attended the scene after receiving a call from Hastings community constables who were in town for last night's street markets. Hawke's Bay Road Policing Sergeant Clint Adamson said the man was creating a nuisance and drawing attention to himself. "We got a call to say he was zapping up and down in the middle of town. We tried to stop him and he didn't pull over. He'd driven into town from the St Leonards area, gone all around town, up and down Heretaunga St, out to Tomoana Rd. He should never have been in those places on a go-kart."
Mr Adamson said the behaviour was dangerous. "Especially travelling at speed in the middle of town. He had no safety gear on, no seatbelt. He was liable to hurt himself or others."