KEY POINTS:
A boy racer who sparked a police pursuit and was observed driving at speeds of up to 140km/h on the Hutt Motorway was just 13 years old.
Inspector Paul Jermy said members of the public alerted police to the driver.
When located, the boy accelerated away and police gave chase. They pulled back when he turned off the car's lights and crossed on to the wrong side of the road.
The car was disabled by road spikes after it exited Hutt Motorway at Petone at around 11pm yesterday.
Police were "somewhat surprised" when the driver turned out to be a 13-year-old boy driving his father's work van.
He faces charges of reckless driving and failing to stop for police and will be referred to youth aid.
- NZPA
