Stolen-car pursuit ends in fiery crash

Two teenagers escaped from the wreck of a stolen car moments before it burst into flames.

Police were chasing the Nissan Skyline in Mangere shortly before it smashed into a pole and then a concrete bus shelter early yesterday.

The 16-year-old driver freed himself from the wreck and police pulled a 15-year-old from the passenger seat. The car then burst into flames.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority is investigating the pursuit and crash, which happened on Kirkbride Rd, Mangere, about 1.25am.

Police and the Eagle helicopter were chasing the vehicle but police say they pulled out of the chase before the accident.

Ted Grambeau, who was on the scene about 90 seconds after the smash, said he was woken in his hotel, about 50m away, before the crash.

"Just prior to it, I could hear sirens, then a helicopter, and then a car skidding massively and then a crash," he said.

"It was a bit of a bang and it was pretty obvious because of the skidding that preceded it [that] it was obviously travelling extremely fast and out of control."

Mr Grambeau said a youth was lying on the ground when he arrived on the scene.

"I would definitely say they saved the kid's life. There's no question - the kid that was trapped in the car would have been dead. He looked a bit incapacitated."

Inspector Anthony Edwards of the police northern communications centre said both youths were taken to Middlemore Hospital, and the driver was released shortly afterwards.

Mr Edwards said an initial assessment indicated the vehicle's fuel line or tank had ruptured, causing a petrol leak which caught fire.

The officer in charge of the scene, Senior Sergeant Al Symonds, said both teenagers were lucky to be alive .

"If it had not been for the quick response and actions by the attending officers it is likely police would have been dealing with a very serious injury crash and probably a fatality."

Inspector Jacqueline Whittaker said police had stopped pursuing the vehicle by the time the accident occurred.

She did not know how long the pursuit had lasted but it was "quite short".