Road spikes used to stop fleeing driver

Road spikes were used to stop the fleeing driver. Photo / File

Road spikes were used and State Highway 1 traffic brought to a halt as Waikato police arrested a fleeing driver on the outskirts of Hamilton this morning.

Waikato road policing manager, Inspector Freda Grace, said the incident began after a dog handler attempted to carry out a routine vehicle check on Hamilton's Clarkin Rd about 11.25am.

"A dog handler has attempted to pull the black Ford Explorer over but the driver has fled north at speed."

A pursuit, managed by the Police Northern Communications Centre, was initiated and it was established the vehicle was stolen yesterday.

"The fleeing driver has led police on a circuitous route around northern suburbs of Hamilton before he turned off on to River Rd towards Horotiu. Road spikes were deployed at Horotiu and the explorer has continued north along SH1, albeit at a somewhat reduced speed."

With its tyres flattened officers were aware the fleeing driver had few options available and were able to make plans to bring the matter to a conclusion.

"Traffic coming off the Waikato Expressway was stopped at Taupiri while southbound traffic coming in from Huntly was also stopped.

"The fleeing driver has then approached the round-about at Taupiri where he lost control and crashed into a power-pole. He was arrested without injury or further incident and is currently being spoken to by Police."

Mrs Grace said traffic flow was low at the time and what traffic was on the road, was pulling right over which allowed police to keep the stolen explorer in view, she said.

"This is exactly what police would ask the motoring public to do, if you see an emergency vehicle's lights approaching and hear its siren, pull over and remain stationary until the vehicle or vehicles pass."

Details of a second police chase from this morning are due to be released by police soon.

A second incident at 6.30am today, saw a motorcyclist become airborne after losing control of his bike at the intersection of State Highway 1 and SH1B at Taupiri.

An officer clocked the rider travelling about 170kmh and after deciding it was travelling to fast to catch him, he radioed ahead for colleagues further north to watch out for him.

"The officer describes the motorbike going airborne one way and the rider in mid-air heading in another direction. The rider of the motorbike, which had no warrant of fitness, was shaken but uninjured in the crash. The rider did not have a licence to be riding that bike and he now faces dangerous speed and failing to stop charges," Mrs Grace said.

When roading engineers consider plans for roads a variety of factors are considered but she doubted helping to slow down fleeing drivers was one of them.

"Given there was no injury from either crash I can accept there is an element of humour to what has occurred.

"What I can't accept however, is the risk these fleeing drivers are placing my staff and innocent members of the public in. Already this week emergency services have had to attend too many traumatic road crash scenes and no one, other than us, appears to consider the impact on those tidying up the mess."

Mrs Grace said fleeing drivers can expect little sympathy from police who will be working to ensure they face the appropriate court action.

"There are too many grieving families being left behind for us not to."