KEY POINTS:
A man is in an induced coma after crashing a car while being pursued by police last night.
Police said the 21-year-old driver, who underwent surgery at Christchurch Hospital today, had been identified and his family informed.
The driver failed to stop for a patrol in Dyers Pass Rd about 11.30pm and was pursued from Christchurch to Governors Bay on Banks Peninsula where the car crashed into a concrete abutment.
Senior Sergeant Rob Patterson, of Christchurch, said the Mitsubishi car was followed at a "moderate speed", with police "some distance behind", on the steep and winding Dyers Pass road before the crash.
"All police protocols have been followed and the crash has been referred to the Police Complaints Authority."
The incident follows the death of New Plymouth man Michael James Ellicock, 21, killed after a police pursuit in the city last Saturday.
Police said they had called off their chase because of dangerous conditions and were not following Mr Ellicock when his car left the road.
- NZPA
