Motorcyclist in fatal crash named

A motorcyclist who died while trying to evade Wellington police has been identified.

He was 28-year-old Leith David Barnes, from Timaru.

Mr Barnes was seen travelling at speed of about 150km/h before he rode over a bank and was killed in the suburban Newlands last night.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority will investigate the death.

Police gave chase after spotting the rider speeding south on State Highway 1 near Tawa about 4.30pm.

"Officers attempted to get the motorcyclist to stop but he did not," police said in a statement.

The rider exited the motorway at Johnsonville and headed towards Wellington before taking the Newlands turnoff.

He rode along Newlands Road before losing control, crashing down a bank into Dennis Duggan Park.

Burger Fuel worker Andrew Pollard told The Dominion Post he saw the bike travelling about 150km/h, with a police car tailing at speeds less than 100km/h

"About five minutes after I got [to work] a bike flew past. It was definitely a new model. He was just hoofing it.

- NZPA