A 50-year-old man has been arrested after police monitored a vehicle speeding in Auckland up to the point where it was abandoned.
When the alleged driver was found nearby, he denied any knowledge of the vehicle — until the keys were found in his pocket, police said.
A spokesperson said the incident began just before 9.30pm last night when an officer spotted a vehicle going “well over the legal speed limit” on the Northern Motorway.
The driver was signalled to stop, police said. “He slowed down but did not pull over,” Senior Sergeant Andrew Hawkins said.
“As police pulled alongside this vehicle, the driver has sped up again, and fled.
“We did not pursue and followed the vehicle’s movements on traffic cameras.”
The vehicle left the motorway at Onewa before it was later found abandoned on Tarahanga St in Northcote, Hawkins continued.
“The alleged driver was quickly located nearby but claimed to have no knowledge of the vehicle.
“Its keys were found in his pocket and, after declining breath and blood tests, he was arrested.”
The vehicle was impounded and the man was due to appear in North Shore District Court today.
He faced charges of failing to stop, reckless driving, driving contrary to a zero-alcohol limit and refusing to give blood.
Hawkins said: “We won’t tolerate this abhorrent and reckless driving behaviour.
“The alleged offender’s actions put other motorists at great risk, and we are happy his vehicle is now off the road.”
