A young driver has died and his two passengers are in a serious condition in hospital after the car they were in crashed into an oncoming truck near Rotorua yesterday.
Police received multiple calls from the public reporting that the driver of a silver Lexus was driving dangerously on State Highway 1 south of Cambridge around 4.30pm on Tuesday.
The car was seen cutting off multiple vehicles and travelling at speeds of more than 80km/h above the legal limit.
Bay of Plenty road policing manager Inspector Phil Gillbanks said officers spotted the car near Tīrau and recognised it as a vehicle of interest following an aggravated robbery in Tauranga on Monday.
"The manner of driving has been erratic and posed a significant risk to other road users," he said.
The vehicle's movements were relayed to nearby units, allowing them to take positions ahead of the vehicle and prepare to deploy road spikes.
The vehicle was spiked on Oturoa Rd, near State Highway 36, and again on Hamurana Rd about 5.30pm.
Gillbanks said police then found the Lexus had crashed into a truck and caught fire on State Highway 36.
"Tragically the driver was deceased, and the two young passengers were trapped and seriously hurt," he said.
He said members of the public and officers ran to the scene and used about 18 extinguishers to douse the flames, saying their "actions were courageous and saved lives of the trapped passengers".
The truck driver sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene by ambulance staff.
Several officers were also treated for minor burns and smoke inhalation.
Gillbanks said a critical incident investigation was under way and the IPCA had been notified.
The serious crash unit completed a scene examination last night and the road reopened about midnight.
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