Drivers have been warned by police to pull over and stop or they are putting lives at risk after a 25-year-old man died in a police pursuit in Bay of Plenty this morning.
The man, who died after crashing into a tree near Kawerau, is the second person to die this week in a police pursuit following an incident in New Plymouth on Monday.
“The thing is pull over and stop, this person would still be alive today if he’d actually stopped,” Superintendent Andy McGregor told media.
“You look at the consequences for his family, you look at the tragic loss they’ve suffered and this is what they have to go through,” he said.
The man's family and police staff are shaken by what took place near Kawerau overnight. (Source: Other)
“Our thoughts are with the family at this time, it’s a tragic thing to happen.”
Police saw a car being driven at high speed near Kawerau around 3.30am with officers losing sight of the vehicle.
A short time later the same vehicle was seen without its lights on.
Police tried to stop the 25-year-old but he sped off, with police giving chase, before he lost control less than a minute later. He died at the scene.
Superintendent McGregor defended police actions in the pursuit.
“We actually carry out risk assessments all the time in terms of pursuits, if they get very dangerous, we abandon pursuits,” he said.
Superintendent McGregor said police are carrying out an investigation into the death.
The driver was observed speeding and then travelling with their lights off. (Source: Other)
The independent police conduct authority has also been notified.
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