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Two police officers have been commended for pulling a seriously injured woman to safety soon after the fuel tank in the crashed car she was in exploded.
Constables Gary Taylor and Mark Leatham's actions would be recommended to the police commissioner for a bravery award, Taupo area police chief Bob Burns said.
The pair had been pursuing the car near Turangi on Saturday night after it's driver had allegedly fled from a service station without paying for petrol.
The car drove along State Highway 1 at speeds of up to 160km/h before losing control and crashing into a tree, the Waikato Times reported.
Police said the male driver pulled the badly injured woman from the wreck before running from the scene.
The officers were both knocked off their feet by an explosion as they approached the wreck and Mr Leatham managed to grab the injured woman and drag her to safety.
She remains in Waikato Hospital with serious injuries including burns.
"Looking back at it you do what you have to in the situation," Mr Taylor said after the incident. "The woman was unresponsive when we got to her, she was breathing erratically and had serious head injuries from the impact.
"We put ourselves at risk most days and it is a case of dealing with it and getting on with the job," he said.
The driver was later arrested and faces driving and theft charges.
- NZPA
