State highway crash ends police pursuit

This stolen car crashed into a barrier on State Highway 1, south of Whangarei, yesterday. Photo / John Stone

A stolen car driven by a 27-year-old Auckland man crashed into a safety barrier during a police pursuit after allegedly passing two logging trucks on the inside lane of the road.

The chase came to an end on State Highway 1, near the turn-off to Mangapai yesterday, when the car clipped the left side of a logging truck, hit a barrier then spun across the road and slammed into a barrier on the Oakleigh Bridge over Paneiraira Creek.

Police spotted the car about 12.30pm near the roundabout at Ruakaka after reports of overtaking on double yellow lines and overtaking on the left-hand side of the road as the Subaru station wagon travelled north.

A check of police records showed the car was stolen from an Auckland property last Saturday.

The driver, the sole occupant in the car, was checked by St John Ambulance officers but it was only for minor injuries.

Officers managed to keep one lane open and traffic flowing while the scene was examined and then for the removal of the vehicle.

A senior highway patrol officer said it was extremely lucky no one was injured, given the busy time of day and and the amount of traffic on the road.

The driver was remanded in custody and was to appear in Whangarei District Court today on charges of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, reckless driving, failing to remain stopped, failing to stop for police and driving while forbidden.