Police abandon high-speed chase

Police were forced to abandon a high-speed chase in busy traffic in central Oamaru when the vehicle reached speeds up to 170km/h, police said today.

The chase began on Thames Highway yesterday, in a 50km/h zone when the fleeing driver reached a speed of 110km/h going past Waitaki Girls' High School.

At times he was in the middle of the road. He drove on the median strip through to the North End, police said.

Traffic was heavy at the time and when the chase reached the Oamaru Racecourse the vehicle was estimated to be travelling at 170km/h.

It was the longest and fastest chase they could recall, police said.

Constable Peter Muldrew said police communications were aware of the incident the whole time and when the chase reached that speed he was told to abandon it.

Police from Timaru, Waimate and Kurow were all involved in efforts to apprehend the vehicle, reported stolen from Dunedin, and the driver.

Two patrols were placed at the Waitaki Bridge. An aircraft was also put up to try and spot the speeding vehicle.

Detective Sergeant Mike Ryder said Dunedin police had a "fairly strong line of inquiry" as to who the offender was.

However police have not yet apprehended the driver or located the vehicle.

- NZPA