Speaking at a press conference at Masterton police station in the wake of the deaths yesterday, Detective Senior Sergeant Barry Bysouth urged drivers not to try to flee from police.
"Please stop, if police ask you to pull over, please stop -- nothing is worth this tragic loss of life."
He said police had recognised the Honda Civic driven by the teens as stolen and had attempted to pull it over outside the Masterton Warehouse.
"Police engaged the vehicle by putting on the blue and red lights in an attempt to pull this vehicle over, the vehicle responded by immediately accelerating away from the police at a dangerous speed."
CCTV footage and radio recordings showed police had abandoned the pursuit within seconds, Mr Bysouth said.
