Police car rammed during pursuit

A disqualified driver drove on a deflated tyre at speeds up to 120km/h and rammed a patrol car as he tried to escape police during a chase around Hamilton early today.

Senior Sergeant Jeff Penno from Hamilton police said the man borrowed his ex-partner's Ford Telstar and was driving with four people when signalled to stop in the city.

He headed west to Whatawhata before managing to avoid road spikes at Te Kowhai.

He then drove towards Te Rapa where one of the front tyres on the car was flattened by road spikes.

"Despite this, the driver has kept going reaching speeds up to 120km/h as he headed north to Ngaruawahia where the car came to a halt," Mr Penno said.

As police descended on the car, the driver restarted it and drove into a patrol car, almost hitting a police officer.

Mr Penno said officers forcibly removed the occupants from the vehicle.

The 25-year-old driver faces charges including driving with excess breath alcohol, driving while disqualified, reckless driving and failing to stop.

"It's disappointing that this driver...has chosen to place the lives of himself, his passengers and other road users at risk with a display of such dangerous driving," Mr Penno said.

He said the man's ex-partner was likely to be ruing her decision to let the man borrow her car.

- NZPA