Road spikes force driver down dead-end
A teenage driver has fled police at high speed, causing oncoming traffic to swerve and police to roll out road spikes.
Liam Isaac James Rule, 18, was heading north on State Highway 1, through Seddon, south of Blenheim, when police clocked him at 113kmh on February 6.
A police car caught up with Rule’s Ford Falcon at the Dashwood bridge and indicated for him to pull over, a police summary said. A passenger in the back seat was spotted turning to look at the police car, but Rule accelerated towards Blenheim. He pulled over about 20 seconds later and the police car pulled in behind him.
An unidentified passenger got out of the back seat, and Rule drove off again, with police again in pursuit.
The Ford Falcon reached 168kmh, twice crossing the centre line into oncoming traffic, which had to swerve to avoid him each time. Police set up road spikes near Riverlands School on SH1.
Rule saw the spikes and made a last-minute right-hand turn into a private dead-end to avoid the spikes. He stopped the car about 200 metres down the road, and police arrested Rule and his friend in the front passenger seat. The pursuit lasted about 12 minutes in total, and involved six police cars.
Police found a bong for cannabis in the car, and identified the two rear wheels as stolen. Rule, a blacksmith of Waimate, said he knew the wheels were stolen.
He loaned the car to his friend in the passenger seat in January, saying he needed two new tyres. The man returned the vehicle, telling Rule he stole the new rear wheels, the summary said.
Later that week the pair went to a Z Energy service station in Ashburton. They put petrol worth $136.03 into the Ford Falcon and took two ice creams and three pies from inside. Then they ran from the service station and drove away without paying.
Rule was hoping police would just abandon pursuit so he could get away, he said.
Rule admitted failing to stop for police, reckless driving, theft, speeding, possessing a bong, receiving stolen property, and driving while suspended at the Blenheim
Monday.
He was suspended from driving for three months on December 25 for having too many demerit points.
Police sought the confiscation of the Ford Falcon.
Judge David Ruth remanded Rule on bail to April 23.
A 22-year-old from Waimate faces six charges related to Rule’s offending, and two other driving charges. He was supposed to appear in court on Monday but did not show up, and the courts issued a warrant for his arrest. District Court on