A Palmerston North man killed while trying to evade police was driving at speed without his lights on and swerved to avoid another motorist when he lost control of his car, a coroner has found.
Jason Luke Downes, 25, unemployed, died from head injuries when his car crashed into aditch on Palmerston North's Pioneer Highway about 11.30pm on May 4.
The crash happened while Mr Downes was being followed by a police officer, who clocked him racing another car at 128km/h in a 50km/h zone and followed the drivers.
However, Palmerston North coroner Tim Scott did not find Constable Rob Illingworth responsible for the accident, the Manawatu Standard reported.
It was not a regulation pursuit, as he turned off the police lights after the racing drivers turned their headlights off, although Mr Illingworth did drive over the speed limit, Mr Scott said.
When a woman pulled her car out from a side road into Mr Downes' path, unable to see the unlit vehicles travelling at speed, Mr Downes swerved and his car left the road, landing into a water-filled ditch.
There was no alcohol in Mr Downes' blood, and the small amount of cannabis was not enough to affect his driving, Mr Scott said.
