Fleeing driver scatters bystanders

A man has been charged with reckless driving and theft after 80km high-speed chase involving two crashes. Photo / File

Man charged with reckless driving and theft after 80km high-speed chase involving two crashes

Pedestrians fled and a 71-year-old woman was lucky to escape injury when her car was struck during a driver's 80km high-speed flight from police yesterday.

Eight police patrol cars were involved in the pursuit of the driver, who drove up to 150km/h, after a petrol drive-off in Balclutha.

The man eventually gave himself up to a following patrol car south of Mosgiel.

Constable Amie Manning said police were alerted after a Mitsubishi V3000 station wagon was involved in a $90 petrol drive-off from BP2Go in Clyde St, about 8.45am yesterday.

A police officer spotted the vehicle in Waihola and gave chase. Police abandoned the pursuit as the car reached 130-150km/h and crossed the centre line, Ms Manning said.

The station wagon then struck a car driven by a 71-year-old Balclutha woman between Allanton and East Taieri.

"She's extremely lucky not to be injured," Ms Manning said. The driver then went to a park to try to lose the patrol cars.

"Members of the public had to flee for their safety," she said.

With police again in pursuit, the driver drove into a ditch to avoid a head-on collision with a truck, Ms Manning said.

Minutes later, he stopped in the middle of Gladfield Rd and gave himself up. "He was co-operative," Ms Manning said.

Brett Kamira Martin, 46, of Invercargill, appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday afternoon on charges including reckless driving and theft.

He was remanded in custody until tomorrow.