Watch: Southern Motorway police incident: Driver spiked after fleeing officers

A man has been arrested after police spiked the car he was fleeing in, amid traffic on Auckland’s Southern Motorway in Ōtāhuhu, and he stopped a member of the public’s car and got in on May 29. Photo / Supplied

A man has been arrested after police spiked the car he was fleeing in, amid traffic on Auckland’s Southern Motorway, and he stopped a member of the public’s car and got in.

The man abandoned a car in Ōtāhuhu, after being seen swerving across the road with blown tyres, after driving dangerously through at least three suburbs earlier.

Police closed several southbound lanes on the motorway, just after the Princes St on-ramp in Ōtāhuhu about 12.35pm, and arrested the man.

Police said the incident began when officers tried to pull a car over due to its “manner of driving” on Lakewood Ct in Manukau about 11.51am.

A man has been arrested after police spiked the car he was fleeing in, amid traffic on Auckland’s Southern Motorway in Ōtāhuhu, and he stopped a member of the public’s car and got in on May 29, 2023. Photo / Supplied

“The vehicle failed to stop at the time, however it was not pursued,” a police spokeswoman said.

The police Eagle helicopter then tracked the car driving dangerously through Manukau, Māngere and into Ōtāhuhu.

Meanwhile, a witness told the Herald police were chasing a car along Great North Rd from Waterview just after midday.

Police cars then sped onto the Northwestern Motorway near Motat, before exiting onto the Southern Motorway, the witness said.

A man has been arrested after police spiked the car he was fleeing in, amid traffic on Auckland’s Southern Motorway near Ōtāhuhu, and he stopped a member of the public’s car and got in on May 29. Photo / Video

When the Herald queried police about the incident on Great North Rd, the spokeswoman gave details about the incident beginning in Manukau.

Video footage seen by the Herald shows a white car being spiked while travelling south along the Southern Motorway near the Tip Top Ice Cream factory.

The car can then be seen swerving across a lane and exiting the motorway at the Princes St and Ōtāhuhu off-ramp.

A shot from footage of the incident. Photo / Video

The man abandoned his vehicle and fled on foot, the police spokeswoman said.

“He has then attempted to stop moving vehicles on the Southern Motorway, near Ōtāhuhu, before getting into a member of the public’s car,” she said.

“Police staff ... arrived on scene where the man was taken into custody.”

“Charges are now being considered following today’s incident,” a Police statement says.

Waka Kotahi NZTA said two motorway lanes along State Highway 1 were closed due to a “police issue” at 12.35pm.

A photograph taken by a traffic camera shows a police car blocking the on-ramp at Princes St and another blocking two leftmost southbound lanes.

Two officers can be standing by each car. At least four other police cars can be seen about 20 metres ahead.

“Pass with care and expect delays,” Waka Kotahi said, before saying the lanes had reopened five minutes later and the issue had been “fully cleared”.

UPDATE 12:40PM
This issue now fully cleared, with all lanes south open again. ^TP https://t.co/nxty0TlG0E

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) May 29, 2023

It comes as the Herald understands police will likely chase more fleeing drivers following a revision to their pursuit policy.

Police Commissioner Andrew Coster is expected to detail the changes today after he confirmed last year the policy would be reviewed and a “Fleeing Driver Framework” would be introduced.

The Herald understands the new framework will encourage decisions on whether to pursue will be informed by what crime the driver has committed and the risk they posed to the public, either through future offending or in a police pursuit.

It’s likely this will mean police will chase more fleeing drivers - something hinted at by Coster in November.