Man dies following police pursuit

A police investigator examines a car that crashed in Hastings this morning, killing the driver, after a police chase. John Cowpland / Getty Images

The driver who died in a crash following a police pursuit in Hawke's Bay this morning has been named as John James Whiunui.

The crash happened just before 4am, after police were called to a domestic dispute at a Hastings service station.

A vehicle was driven off by a man soon after officers arrived. Police chased it for about a kilometre before the driver failed to stop at a T-intersection, crashing into the wall of the city's Exhibition Centre.

Mr Whiunui, 23, died at the scene. Hastings Area Commander Dean Clifford said police pursuit policy and procedure were followed during the incident.

He said an investigation was underway and the Police Complaints Authority has been advised.

Mr Clifford said a forecourt attendant at the petrol station had phoned police because the behaviour of a customer toward his partner had given cause for concern.
"Police did not have a chance to really discover what was going on because one of the parties left immediately," he said.

"We will be talking with the partner, who was left behind at the petrol station, but we're just giving her some time."

Blood samples had been taken from the dead man and would be tested for the presence of alcohol or drugs, he said.

"As part of the crash investigation, we'll be looking at the driver's behaviour and demeanour but we can't speculate at this stage about his state of mind."

He said the incident had been very traumatic for police staff involved.

"At this stage it looks like they did everything by the book, but they were powerless to stop the crash."

He said police expected to release the dead man's name later this morning.

- NEWSTALK ZB, NZPA