KEY POINTS:
Two youth members of St John involved in a road crash on Monday had not been at a camp teaching road safety as wrongly reported earlier today, the ambulance service organisation has said.
The Press newspaper this morning carried a report incorrectly stating that the pair had mentored younger members on leadership, first aid and road safety.
But St John said road safety hadn't been a component of the Easter camp at Waddington, 57km northwest of Christchurch.
The 19-year-olds, who joined St John several years ago as cadets, were reported to have been racing each other at speeds in excess of 140km/h along McLeans Island Road in northwest Christchurch when the driver of the rear car lost control on a bend.
His vehicle crashed through a fence and slammed into trees before bursting into flames just as he managed to escape the wreckage.
The youth suffered only moderate injuries and witnesses said he was wearing the white shirt of a St John ambulance officer.
Police are investigating and have impounded the second car involved, while St John has begun an internal investigation that could lead to the youths' dismissal from the organisation.
St John spokeswoman Amy McDermott said the camp had included a leadership course and the pair were "learning how to be effective leaders".
She said the weekend also included a dedication ceremony for new St John facilities at Waddington, and the youths were required to wear uniform.
St John's national youth director Michael Brooke said yesterday the organisation was investigating the incident as policy required when someone might have brought the organisation into disrepute.
- NZPA
