Spikes stop speeding vehicle

WHAT began as a routine traffic stop in Oamaru yesterday morning ended with the eventual spiking of a speeding vehicle 160km north of where the incident initially unfolded.

About 9.25am, Oamaru police stopped a vehicle that contained two male occupants, believed to be from Oamaru, in Waterfront Rd at Oamaru Harbour as part of a routine stop.

When the officer who pulled the vehicle over got out of the patrol car, the green Honda Civic sped away from the scene in a northbound direction.

Police pursued it along Humber St for a short time until the pursuit was called off at 9.28am on the same road, in the vicinity of Trent St, in the interest of public safety.

A police spokeswoman said just over an hour later, about 10.40am, police received a report that the same vehicle drove away from a Waimate petrol station without its fuel being paid for.

A short time later it failed to stop for police in Timaru, where a second pursuit began, which was abandoned at Temuka due to the vehicle’s excessive speed.

Police continued to monitor the vehicle from a distance until road spikes were laid on the northern side of the Ashburton River bridge at Tinwald, on the outskirts of the Mid Canterbury township.

The vehicle hit the road spikes just after noon, before it came to a halt and two people were taken into police custody.

The 17yearold driver was arrested and charged with theft, driving in a dangerous manner and failing to stop.

He is scheduled to appear in the Ashburton District Court on August 8.

The vehicle’s second occupant was referred to Youth Aid.