Youths caught throwing debris on to highway

Two Taupo youths who threw concrete and timber on to State Highway 1 yesterday afternoon have expressed no remorse, police say.

Sergeant James McGrogan said the pair, aged 13 and 15, threw debris including a 1m length of four-by-two timber and 30cm slab of concrete on to the road at Wairakei, north of Taupo, about 1.30pm.

The pair ran off when police arrived but were tracked by a police dog and found hiding in bushes soon after, Mr McGrogan said.

He said neither offender had shown any remorse over their behaviour, which was concerning following an incident on Auckland's southern motorway last year where a rock thrown from an overbridge went through a car windscreen, killing the Taupo driver.

Yesterday's offending had the potential to cause a serious crash, Mr McGrogan said. The pair have been referred to Youth Aid.

- NZPA