Gisborne man dies in crash after police pursuit

A 22-year-old Gisborne man has been killed in a crash following a police pursuit last night. Photo / File

A 22-year-old Gisborne man has been killed in a crash following a police pursuit.

Inspector Sam Aberahama, Tairawhiti Area Commander said the crash happened in Frasertown, Wairoa, just after 7.30pm last night.

One man died and another was flown to Hawke's Bay Hospital in a critical condition and is now stable.

Two other men were taken to Wairoa Hospital for treatment and have since been discharged.

Prior to the crash, police had observed the vehicle speeding and signalled to the driver to pull over.

The driver failed to stop and fled from police.

At 7.30pm, the officer chose to abandon the pursuit as they no longer had sight of the fleeing vehicle. Shortly after this, police received a report that a vehicle had crashed on Awamate Rd.

"Police have since established this vehicle was the same one being driven by the fleeing driver in the pursuit just minutes earlier," Aberahama said.

A Serious Crash Unit investigation is underway and the pursuit has been referred to the Independent Police Conduct Authority.