Teen crash driver leaves hospital

Emergency staff attend the scene of a crash involving four teenage girls. Photo / Supplied

The teenage girl who was behind the wheel of a car that crashed during a police pursuit in Auckland has been discharged from hospital while one of her passengers continues to fight for her life.

The 16-year-old driver was discharged from Auckland City Hospital overnight after the high-speed crash on Kepa Rd at Kohimarama on Sunday, a spokeswoman for the Auckland District Health Board said.

The girl and her three passengers, all aged 16 and 17, had to be cut from the stolen car after crashing through a concrete block wall during a one-minute pursuit by a police patrol car.

One of the girls is this morning in a critical but stable condition at Auckland City Hospital while the other two teenagers remain in a stable condition, the spokeswoman said.

The girls were allegedly fighting and knocking over tables at a Mission Bay cafe before police were called and located the teenagers in the stolen car.

Police pursued the girls for one minute before they crashed into a 2m-high wall with such force that the impact shook neighbouring houses.

Part of the wall collapsed on to the car, trapping the girls who had to be cut free.

Senior police have defended the actions of officers involved in the pursuit and said spikes had been set up further along Kepa Rd but the fleeing car crashed beforehand when it lost control after hitting a concrete median strip.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority is investigating the pursuit.