Woman injured while fleeing police in Oamaru 'doing fine'

A 34-year-old Oamaru woman is carried to a waiting rescue helicopter after crashing her car while fleeing police. Photo/Hamish Maclean

A woman who led police on an 8km chase in Oamaru before rolling her car is recovering in hospital.

A police spokesman said the 34-year-old Oamaru local had an injured foot but was "doing fine" despite reports last night she was in a critical condition.

The car rolled on Herbert-Hampden Rd about 4.30pm yesterday, just outside the 70km zone, north of Palmerston and south of Oamaru.

At the time a police spokeswoman said the woman was trapped but conscious and a helicopter was called from Dunedin to take her to hospital.

A police statement said the driver, who was driving at speed, failed to stop for police and a "short pursuit was initiated" on Herbert-Hampden Rd.

"Approximately two minutes later the driver has crossed the centre line, crashed and rolled their vehicle off the road," the statement said.

"Ambulance has been called to the scene, however the road is not currently blocked."

A driver who had passed by the crash said it occurred just south of the 70km zone in Herbert. She believed the car had gone down a bank.