KEY POINTS:
A 17-year-old Hastings youth died when a car crashed into a bridge abutment after being pursued by police early today.
The crash occurred on Raukawa Rd, 10km south-west of Hastings, at around 1.15am.
Police said the name of the youth, who died at the scene, would not be released until all family had been notified.
A male passenger, who was in the car, was taken to Hawke's Bay Hospital with serious injuries and was in a stable condition.
Hastings Area Commander Inspector Dean Clifford said today a police patrol was in the area after reports of boy racers, including a crash where people had left the scene and were picked up by another car.
Mr Clifford said the patrol car driver then spotted two cars driving towards him at speed.
He activated his lights, did a u-turn and began following one of the cars.
"Approaching the settlement of Bridge Pa, the pursued vehicle passed another car and appears to have lost control and crashed into a bridge abutment", Mr Clifford said.
He said it was only a short time from when the police car activated its lights and siren to when the car crashed.
The police car was no closer than 500m to the pursued car.
No other vehicles were involved in the crash.
Mr Clifford said a traffic crash investigation and an internal investigation was underway and the Police Complaints Authority had been notified.
"A full investigation will be carried out that will hopefully give us a broader picture of events that took place in the lead-up to the crash and the actions of everyone involved in this.
Early indications were that police policy and procedures were followed appropriately, Mr Clifford said.
- NZPA
