Youth in court after death of 14-year-old on police chase

A 15-year-old student has been charged with reckless driving causing death and failing to stop for police after a 14-year-old boy died during a pursuit lasting less than a minute in Auckland early today.

The victim was a passenger in a stolen car which crashed about 47 seconds after the police pursuit began in the west Auckland suburb of Titirangi. He died at the scene.

The student appeared in Waitakere District Youth Court this afternoon on four charges, including the driving charges, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle and an alternative charge of receiving.

Police may lay additional charges, spokesman Kevin Loughlin said.

The youth, who has automatic name suppression, was bailed to reappear in court on Tuesday.

Two other male occupants of the car, aged 15, suffered serious injuries and remained in a critical condition in Auckland Hospital.

Police have not released the name of the dead boy.

The pursuit began after a police unit was patrolling Titirangi at 3.21am following reports of a burglary at a home in nearby Laingholm.

At the Titirangi shops, the patrol noticed three vehicles grouped together, including the stolen grey Subaru Forrester station wagon.

The three cars quickly dispersed at speed in different directions.

Police tried to intercept and stop one vehicle, but the driver failed to stop.

"The unit activated their red and blue lights and sirens and called in a pursuit but the driver of the Subaru still failed to stop," Mr Loughlin said.

"The pursuit had been in progress for about 47 seconds and had travelled a distance of just over a kilometre when the Subaru lost control and crashed at the intersection of Golf Road and Titirangi Road."

The Subaru, reported stolen, collided with a lamp post, then hit a tree.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority had been advised, an internal police investigation had begun, and the serious crash unit was investigating.

The maximum penalty for reckless driving causing death is five years' imprisonment and a fine of $20,000. Disqualification from driving is mandatory.

- NZPA