Three police officers are being credited with saving the life of a fleeing teen driver trapped in a crashed and smoke-logged car.
Inspector Peter Raines is praising the efforts of officers who went to the aid of a stricken under-age driver trapped in a mangled wreck.
Mr Raines said moments earlier the police had chased the car along Henderson's Central Park Drive in West Auckland after the 15-year-old boy failed to stop at 12.39pm.
He initially indicated he would stop but then sped off over the bridge spanning Henderson Creek.
Police gave chase but less than 60 seconds later, the driver lost control on a corner, veering over the footpath on the left side of the road before the car travelled up a bank and skidded along the grass and crashed side-on into a tree.