A man wanted by police has been identified in connection with a triple fatal police pursuit near Nelson.
Lewis Popata, 29, has a warrant out for his arrest after he failed to appear in court, and Fairfax reported police were looking for him when they attempted to stop a vehicle in Richmond prior to the fatal pursuit on March 11.
It is understood Popata was an associate of Phillip Stretch, 33, who was a passenger in the car. Stretch later died after the car crashed while fleeing police on State Highway 6 at Hope, south of Nelson, about 5.40am.
The car's driver, Johnathan Tairakena, and an innocent motorist Carmen Marie Yanko, 53, also died in the crash.
![The car's driver Johnathan Tairakena died in the crash. Photo / Supplied](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/RUZOZTVEUA34FUPBF6SG4FZS5M.jpg?auth=2a7a4a2e392d95d4701e1eca2f6455f135723048656341e99b6a3e031d8992e8&width=16&height=22&quality=70&smart=true)