Crashed driver steals car in Wairoa

A man who had crashed his car into a tree in the Hawke's Bay thanked the couple who stopped to help him by stealing their car, say police.
The couple, both 63, were driving along State Highway 2, 15km south of Wairoa, yesterday when they stopped to help a man whose car had gone over a bank and crashed into a tree, Senior Sergeant Tony Bates said.
The couple provided the driver with footwear to walk up the bank and then offered him their cell phone to call for help.
As they were helping him, he allegedly got into their car and drove off, Mr Bates said.
The driver and the stolen car was found this morning in Wanganui.
Police said they were also investigating further incidents the man may have been involved in during his journey to Wanganui.
A man is due to appear in Wanganui District Court today.