Police at the crash scene on Porotu Rd, Oromahoe. PHOTO / PETER DE GRAAF
A Far North man picked a bad day to try to outrun police - a large group of police officers were just down the road carrying out a drink-drive blitz.
Yesterday's drama started about 11.30am when the driver of a Nissan Primera refused to stop for police on Puketona Rd, instead speeding off towards State Highway 10.
Check out the clip of a police dog getting a scent of the driver:
He then headed south on SH10 and turned off onto unsealed Porotu Rd at Oromahoe.
Unfortunately for the driver the Whangarei-based Traffic Alcohol Group was conducting a drink-drive operation in nearby Kawakawa.
Soon a few Kerikeri police were joined by half a dozen from Whangarei who had been running a traffic checkpoint.
The fleeing driver got a puncture but kept driving for another kilometre before losing control and crashing into a fence.
He then fled barefoot through someone's property and into farmland. He was in such a hurry he lost his Nikes and left his cellphone and ID behind in the car.
A police tracking dog searched the area while officers searched a home near the crash scene. At edition time yesterday the driver was still on the run.
A police spokesman said the driver first came to attention for not wearing a seat belt. His car was impounded for failing to stop.
Police knew who they were looking for, he said.
The worker logged 437 hours in five weeks - all of which was unpaid.