Police name man killed in police chase

Police have named the man killed during a police pursuit on a night of unrelated boyracer mayhem in Christchurch.

Shannon Smiler-O'Connor, a 26-year-old front-seat passenger, was killed and five others were injured when the Mitsubishi Lancer they were travelling in crashed into a concrete power pole at the intersection of Manchester St and Moorhouse Avenue about 1am on Sunday.

Police said a patrol car had stopped the vehicle for a routine check on Manchester Street, but the car sped away as officers approached it.

The officers chased the vehicle for a few streets before finding the vehicle smashed into the pole.

Mr Smiler-O'Connor died at the scene, while the car's male driver and a female passenger remained in critical conditions in hospital today.

Two separate investigations into the fatal crash were being carried by police and the Independent Police Conduct Authority.

The crash came on the same night 30 drivers were arrested after police were called to break up a gathering of boyracers on the northern motorway.

"The group of about 140 blocked the onramp with their vehicles and created a danger to other road users due to their driving behaviour and general disorderly presence," Inspector Al Stewart said.

Those arrested faced charges ranging from unlawful assembly to disorderly conduct - punishable by up to a year in prison.

Mr Smiler-O'Connor who was one of three people to die on New Zealand roads at the weekend.

A 27-year-old Whangarei man died after he was thrown from his car crash on Maungakaramea Rd, about 16km south-west of Whangarei, on Saturday at 9.30pm.

Police said only one car was involved in the crash and the victim did not appear to have been wearing a seatbelt.

Another person was killed after a crash on State Highway 1 south of Hapete in Taupo early today.

Both lanes of the road were blocked by the crash, and emergency services were working to clear the scene.

- NZPA


Investigations are continuing into a fatal police pursuit on a night of unrelated boyracer mayhem in Christchurch.

Shannon Smiler-O'Connor, a 26-year-old front-seat passenger, was killed and five others were injured when the Mitsubishi Lancer they were travelling in crashed into a concrete power pole at the intersection of Manchester St and Moorhouse Avenue about 1am on Sunday.

Police said a patrol car had stopped the vehicle for a routine check on Manchester Street, but the car sped away as officers approached it.

The officers chased the vehicle for a few streets before finding the vehicle smashed into the pole.

Mr Smiler-O'Connor died at the scene, while the car's male driver and a female passenger remained in critical conditions in hospital today.

Two separate investigations into the fatal crash were being carried by police and the Independent Police Conduct Authority.

The crash came on the same night 30 drivers were arrested after police were called to break up a gathering of boyracerss on the northern motorway.

"The group of about 140 blocked the onramp with their vehicles and created a danger to other road users due to their driving behaviour and general disorderly presence," Inspector Al Stewart said.

Those arrested faced charges ranging from unlawful assembly to disorderly conduct - punishable by up to a year in prison.

Mr Smiler-O'Connor who was one of three people to die on New Zealand roads at the weekend.

A 27-year-old Whangarei man died after he was thrown from his car crash on Maungakaramea Rd, about 16km south-west of Whangarei, on Saturday at 9.30pm.

Police said only one car was involved in the crash and the victim did not appear to have been wearing a seatbelt.

Another person was killed after a crash on State Highway 1 south of Hapete in Taupo early today.

Both lanes of the road were blocked by the crash, and emergency services were working to clear the scene.

- NZPA