Dunedin pair crash while fleeing assault after alleged drug deal turns sour

A drug deal gone wrong ended with a car crashing into a power pole after two teenagers fled a Dunedin property after being assaulted, police say.

Senior Sergeant Anthony Bond, of Dunedin, said police were called to a crash where a vehicle smashed into a power pole in Victoria Rd at 7.10pm on Friday.

Investigations revealed the two occupants of the car, an 18-year-old woman and a 19-year-old man, had crashed after fleeing from an assault at a nearby property.

The pair had recently attempted to buy cannabis from the address, but during their time at the property ended up being attacked by other people who were there.

The two fled the property and hopped in the vehicle and drove off.

In their haste to get away, they lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the power pole.

The man had blood on his face as a result of the assault and not the crash, Senior Sergeant Bond said.

Investigations were ongoing into the incident.

On Sunday, in an unrelated incident, police stopped a vehicle travelling in George St at 11.15pm and talked to an 18-year-old driver.

While police were speaking to him and he was searching for his licence, officers spotted a bag of cannabis sitting in the centre console of the car.

Officers invoked a warrantless search and located 28.35g of cannabis and $2000 in cash.

He was charged with possession of a pipe and utensils for cannabis and for supply of cannabis.

He will appear in the Dunedin District Court tomorrow.

laine.priestley@odt.co.nz