Police chase ends in serious crash

Three people are in hospital with serious injuries after a high speed police pursuit ended with a head-on collision in Dunedin last night.

The chase began at 11.15pm when a Subaru GT wagon was flagged down by police for a traffic offence on the urban motorway.

The driver refused to stop and the car was pursued along the motorway and into suburban Caversham at "high speed", said Senior Sergeant Brian Benn, of Dunedin police.

Police slowed down at the intersection leading into Caversham, but was still chasing the Subaru when it lost control and hit a taxi coming the other way, on a bend about 200m up Caversham Valley Rd, he said.

The accident happened in a residential area with a 50km/h speed limit.

Mr Benn said the 18-year-old driver of the Subaru, his 22-year-old passenger, and the 66-year-old taxi driver all suffered serious injuries.

Both vehicles were extensively damaged.

There was already a warrant out for the arrest of the Subaru driver for serious traffic offences, but police did not know this at the time of the pursuit, Mr Benn said.

Police believe alcohol was factor in the crash and expect to lay "serious" charges.

The incident will also be investigated by the Police Complaints Authority.

- NZPA