KEY POINTS:
A New Plymouth police chase ended in a fiery blaze so intense that the body had to be identified by finger prints.
Michael James Ellicock, 21, of New Plymouth, was killed when his BMW 730I saloon flew off St Aubyn Street in the city early yesterday, ripped through a fence, shot over a stream and smashed into a large tree. It burst into flames and slowly sank back into the stream.
Fire service staff spent close to six hours at the scene and only realised there was someone in the car when the massive blaze was put out.
"Obviously he was going far too fast," said a Fire Service spokesman.
A police dive team was also called in to search for evidence.
Senior sergeant Allan Whaley said Ellicock had been seen sideswiping a parked car in the central city and police started a pursuit. Whaley couldn't say what speed Ellicock was going but said it was "excessive".
At such high speeds and with heavy rain, Whaley said police decided to call the chase off. The pursuit lasted less than a minute. Ellicock continued down St Aubyn Street before flying off the road.
Ellicock had been at a work function earlier that night.
Residents said they heard a huge crash as the accident happened. Carolyn Bower said the sound was so loud she thought the car had smashed into her garage even though it was quite far away.
She said the fire was massive.
"I heard a huge thud - it was really loud. I thought someone had lit a fire it was that big."
And Danielle Leylander said the smoke from the fire filled the street.
"The whole street was thick with smoke. I tried to see what it was but all I could see was a big fire."
Ellicock had only moved to New Plymouth from Auckland recently to work as a yacht refurbisher. He had started work at Fitzroy Yachts and stayed at Scenic Lodge. He bought the car last February.
Scenic Lodge manager David Ellis said he was saddened by Ellicock's death, especially as he tried to take him under his wing.
"I tried to be like a big brother figure to him. But like the old saying you can lead a horse to water but you cannot make them drink.
"It was quite gut-wrenching to go into his room try to to find an address for his family."
Ellis said he had tried to stop Ellicock from taking the car to the work party but Ellicock didn't listen.
"I'm really gutted to tell you the truth because I told him I wouldn't let him take the car to the work do."
Friends of Ellicock said he loved his cars and thought of himself as a boy racer. They said he had been visited by police for previous minor offences.
The police pursuit and crash will be investigated by police.
