Stolen car's occupants escape crash with their lives

Police say two people are lucky to be alive after their stolen car crashed and burst into flames in south Auckland overnight.

The incident happened on Kirkbride Road in Mangere when the grey Nissan Skyline collided with a pole about 1.25am, northern police communications Inspector Anthony Edwards said.

The car then struck a concrete bus shelter and burst into flames.

The 16-year-old driver managed to escape from the car but the passenger had to be assisted out by police.

Mr Edwards said both were taken to Auckland's Middlemore Hospital for assessment and one was released a short time later.

Mr Edwards said an initial scene investigation indicated the car's fuel line had ruptured causing fuel to leak and ignite shortly after impact.

A police officer at the scene said he believed the car occupants were lucky to be alive

If it had not been for the quick response and actions by the attending officers the crash would probably have been fatal, he said.

The police Eagle helicopter was overhead when the crash happened and a police patrol was quickly on the scene.

However police are refusing to say whether officers were chasing the vehicle before it hit the power pole.

When asked whether police had been chasing the car, a police spokesman said more details will be released later this morning.

- NZPA, NEWSTALK ZB