Gang member's car crashes after police chase

Two people were flown to hospital with serious injuries after a car driven by a Mongrel Mob member collided with another car in Porirua this morning, shortly after police abandoned pursuit of the gang member's car.

The pursued vehicle and an oncoming car collided just before 8am on the corner of Warspite Ave and Drivers Cres in Cannons Creek, Inspector John Spence said.

The Fire Service had to cut free the male driver, later found to be a Porirua Mongrel Mob member.

The female driver of the other vehicle also had to be cut free and both were airlifted to Wellington Hospital by the Westpac Rescue helicopter.

A Wellington Free Ambulance spokeswoman said both were initially in a serious condition -- the woman, aged in her 30s, with abdominal injuries and the man, in his 20s, with leg injuries.

A woman passenger in the second vehicle was also injured and taken to hospital by Wellington Free Ambulance with moderate injuries.

The crash happened soon after a police pursuit was abandoned, but the patrol car was not part of the crash.

Mr Spence, Kapiti Mana area commander, said it appeared the police patrol had signalled a Nissan Skyline to pull over after noticing that the vehicle was displaying two different registration plates.

"The car was first noticed with differing plates yesterday by police in Porirua but traffic conditions prevented any attempt to pull it over.

"It was seen again this morning and when signalled to stop, accelerated in an attempt to evade police. The patrol initiated a pursuit in line with standard practice. The pursuit was very quickly abandoned because of the manner of driving in a built-up area," he said.

"Within a very short time of the patrol pulling out of the pursuit the offending vehicle then struck an oncoming car, unfortunately injuring two innocent members of the public."

Police are appealing for witnesses.

"We're still establishing the full circumstances of the crash but would like to hear from people who may have witnessed it," Mr Spence said.

The Police Complaints Authority will be advised in line with police policy, he said.

- NZPA