Swim-away fugitive stays ahead of police

The car and two people were found. Photo / Brett Phibbs

A woman is still at large nearly two weeks after swimming away from police following a high-speed car chase on Auckland's North Shore.

Linda Cherie Phillips, 33, was one of at least three people in a car which plunged into the Waitemata Harbour at Beach Haven on March 24.

The car earlier struck and seriously injured a police constable who was laying road spikes.

At least three people tried to swim to safety after the car entered the harbour.

One man was arrested nearby shortly afterwards but a woman believed to be Phillips and Sheean Leroy Heta, 23, swam across Hellyers Creek and escaped.

Heta was caught in Wellington five days later but a police spokesman said Phillips remained at large.

Heta has appeared in North Shore District Court charged with driving while disqualified, dangerous driving, failing to stop after an accident, failing to stop for police and entering a building with intent to commit a crime.

A 28-year-old man apprehended at Beach Haven has also appeared in court, charged with burglary and unlawfully getting into a vehicle.

- NZPA