Serious crash unit investigator Graham Fitzpatrick checks out the caryard crash site in Hamilton. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Serious crash unit investigator Graham Fitzpatrick checks out the caryard crash site in Hamilton. Photo / Sarah Ivey
KEY POINTS:
The driver of a car that reached 160km/h before ploughing through a caryard on a central Hamilton street on Friday has been described as an "outgoing, happy-go-lucky" man who enjoyed fishing, snowboarding and surfing.
Clay Bowsher, 30, died at 7 o'clock on Saturday morning at Waikato Hospital's intensivecare unit, after his family agreed to turn off the life support system.
About 3am on Friday he outran an unmarked police car that began pursuing him for doing a large burnout in Hood St.
Police say the chase began at the southern end of Anglesea St, but was abandoned after 15 seconds at the intersection of Collingwood St.
A short time later a separate police car came across a crash scene about 2km north, at the intersection of Liverpool St.
Mr Bowsher had crashed his Nissan Skyline into the courtyard of the prestigious Ingham-Booth car dealership, causing about $80,000 damage to other cars. The Police Complaints Authority is investigating.
Mr Bowsher's father Peter is a former Ngaruawahia police sergeant.
The father and son pair worked together at a division of Porter Hire in Hamilton, High Tech Mechanical.
On Friday general manager Reece Brown said Clay Bowsher worked as a sandblaster and his father worked in the office.
News of the crash had been "absolutely horrendous," he said.
A neighbour of Clay Bowsher, Terry Edwardson, said on the day of the crash he was surprised and upset to hear what had happened. "Clay loves his cars, loves his Skyline."
The car had been bought a few months ago, he said. "You don't buy those sorts of cars and not enjoy them."
Mr Edwardson described Mr Bowsher as a good friend. He was an outgoing guy who enjoyed sports such as surfing, fishing and snowboarding.
