KEY POINTS:
Alcohol is a suspected factor in the death of young man whose car smashed into a stand of pine trees while being pursued by police on Saturday night.
A police patrol car driver spotted the 18-year-old driving at speed through a stop sign in Dargaville about 10.35pm.
The officer activated his flashing lights and siren and went off in pursuit of the Mitsubishi Mirage car as it was driven from Dargaville on State Highway 14, in the direction of Whangarei.
Police said the pursuit lasted just 31 seconds before the man lost control of the car on a bend beside the Dargaville Racecourse, 2km northeast of the town.
The car ran off the road, clipping two pine trees and a fence before coming to rest on the driver's side over a slight embankment. The driver, the sole occupant, died at the scene.
Police said his name would be released after all next-of-kin had been informed.
Alcohol was a suspected factor in the crash and blood had been taken for analysis.
Northland police operations manager Inspector Murray Hodson said the crash would be referred to the Independent Police Conduct Authority, which examines police procedure s in all pursuits leading to death or serious injury.
The fatality was a tragedy for the young man and his family, he told The Northern Advocate.
"The message here is that if an officer of the law signals a motorist to stop, they are required to do so. It's not worth the loss of a life to try to speed away."
Mr Hodson said the crash could have had far worse consequences if there had been more people in the Mitsubishi or it had hit an oncoming vehicle when the driver lost control.
- NZPA
