Manslaughter charge laid, victims named in crash

The wrecked car in Onehunga last night. Witnesses say it sped through a red light and hit a roundabout before flipping and sliding into a post. Photo / Steven McNicholl

Police have charged a 20-year-old Mangere East man with manslaughter following last night's fatal high speed crash in Auckland, where two people were killed shortly after police abandoned pursuit.

Jaycherree Penelope Makakea and Joseph Jack Tawhai, both 20 and of Mangere East, have been named as the victims of the crash.

They died at the scene, in the suburb of Onehunga, about 9pm after a short police chase. Two others were also injured and the driver fled after the crash but later surrendered to police.

Police said they were called to the Queentown Road overbridge in Onehunga about 8.49pm after a person was allegedly seen shining a red laser beam onto motorists travelling on the Mangere Bridge motorway.

When police arrived they saw a car speeding away and began to chase it, said western area commander Inspector Jim Wilson.

The pursuit lasted less than two minutes until officers saw the vehicle go through a red traffic light at high speed, he said.

"The patrol abandoned the pursuit by pulling over to the side of the road and turning off their lights and sirens."

The vehicle continued at speed for a further 170m before it appeared to clip a roundabout on Church Street, Mr Wilson said.

It continued a further 20m, hitting a light pole and then a power pole. Police found the vehicle on its roof.

Two occupants were taken to hospital where they were being treated for moderate injuries. The other two died at the scene.

Mr Wilson said the driver got out and ran from the scene.

He later handed himself into police and would appear in Auckland District Court on Monday, charged with two counts of manslaughter, police said this afternoon.

The police serious crash unit and the Criminal Investigation Branch are investigating the crash and the Independent Police Conduct Authority had also been notified.

In the past 10 months 12 people have been killed either after or during police chases.

- NZPA