Charges catch up to men for high-speed run

Four men have been charged in relation to a high-speed car chase in a stolen car through central Wellington yesterday.

Sergeant Bruce MacKay of Wellington said the four, all aged in their late teens or early 20s, would appear in the Wellington District Court tomorrow.

The driver faced a number of driving charges, and his passengers were charged with a variety of related offences.

"They seemed hell-bent on killing themselves or others," said Mr MacKay.

"While we had four people die after they wrapped themselves around a tree in Hastings last weekend, people just don't seem to learn the lesson about speed."

A patrol car tried to stop the car carrying at least four people about 5pm in relation to an incident reported earlier, but the driver fled at high speed.

The vehicle struck a parked car and seriously damaged it, before continuing to travel dangerously, including going the wrong way on an inner-city street.

Mr MacKay said police abandoned the chase due to the excessive speeds.

The car was soon found on the Wellington motorway, empty and with a seized engine.

The four were arrested shortly afterwards. Police learned later that the car had been stolen.

- NZPA