A man has been charged after an allegedly stolen vehicle fleeing police crossed the centre line and critically injured a person in a head-on collision at the weekend.
The crash occurred on State Highway 2 near Pōkeno at around 3pm on Saturday when a driver allegedly attempted to avoid road spikes and swerved directly into the path of the oncoming car.
Acting Counties Manukau District Commander, Inspector Jared Pirret. said: “The driver of that car initially suffered critical injuries, and now remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition.”
The driver alleged to be fleeing was also critically injured and taken to hospital.
Police said they had been tracking the stolen car since 1.20pm when it was first observed on Dominion Rd in Auckland.
“As a police car approached the stolen car, the driver began driving at high speed and on the wrong side of the road,” a police spokesperson said.
“Due to the manner of driving, police did not pursue the car, but monitored it via Eagle helicopter as it travelled through surrounding suburbs, before heading south on the Southern Motorway, then on to State Highway 2.”
Officers then deployed two sets of road spikes on SH2, attempting to stop the vehicle.
Pirret said police would like to acknowledge the impact the incident had on those involved.
“We are providing support to everyone affected and there are now several investigations underway, including a critical incident investigation and a policy, practice, and procedure investigation.”
The Independent Police Conduct Authority had also been notified as was standard procedure.
A 42-year-old man appeared in Auckland District Court today charged with dangerous driving causing injury and driving while disqualified.
