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A man who had just committed a robbery was fatally hurt yesterday when his getaway car crashed into a tree.
The drama began outside the Westpac bank at Pakuranga Plaza in Pakuranga Rd, in south Auckland, at 3pm.
Two men allegedly snatched a bag containing $6000 in foreign currency from another man who was due to go on holiday today.
One of the robbers took off in a stolen car but police found it a short distance away.
The driver of the getaway car - the sole occupant - reached 130km/h and drove on the wrong side of the road trying to shake off the police before eventually crashing into a tree in Harris Rd, about 4km south of the plaza.
He had to be cut free from the vehicle by firefighters. He was taken to Middlemore Hospital in a critical condition and later died.
Inspector David Simpson of Counties Manukau said although the incident would be classified as a pursuit the vehicle was not being chased when it crashed.
Last night, the police were still hunting the other robber, and the money.
