A former Rotorua man died when a car fleeing police clipped a pedestrian island at high speed before flipping and hitting an oncoming van.
Witnesses to the aftermath of the crash in Boundary Rd, Otara, in Auckland, on Friday said the passenger side of the speeding car was "completely smashed in" after flipping and trapping the two occupants. The 28-year-old passenger, Steven Henare Tepania, died at the scene.
Mr Tepania was raised by his grandmother in Rotorua and attended Rotokawa School and Mokoia Intermediate, his great-uncle told the Rotorua Daily Post. According to his Facebook page, he also went to Rotorua Lakes High School.
Mr Tepania's body would be brought home to Pikirangi Marae, his great-uncle said.
The driver had allegedly fled when police signalled him to stop during an operation in Puhinui Rd.