Suspects run after car crash
Three people who fled a serious car crash could be linked to a botched burglary, police say.
The collision happened at the intersection of Corbett Rd and SH3, north of Bell Block, just after 12am on Sunday.
The three occupants of a red Nissan Pulsar, which pulled out from Corbett Rd into the path of a car travelling along the highway towards New Plymouth, fled the scene while the driver of the other vehicle was taken to Taranaki Base Hospital by St John ambulance.
About the same time police were also alerted to a break-in at Checkers Fast Food, on Corbett Rd, but the offenders, who had smashed a window to gain entry to the building, ran off empty handed after an alarm sounded.
Constable Rob Keen, Central Districts Highway Patrol, said the force of the impact spun the Nissan across the highway on to the opposite side of the road and it was fortunate nobody had been killed.
‘‘The red vehicle has been struck on the driver’s door with significant impact,’’ Keen said.
‘‘All of the occupants in both of the vehicles are very lucky not to have sustained serious or fatal injuries.’’
He said the trio fleeing the scene ran through the nearby service station and along Wills Rd.
A police dog unit tracked the suspects through a residential area of Bell Block but were unable to locate them.
Keen said police wanted to hear from any residents who located any strange items on their properties, had noticed or heard any strange activity in the area around the time.
Police have impounded the Nissan and believe the attempted burglary and crash could be connected.
‘‘That is an avenue of inquiry that we are pursuing at this stage,’’ Keen said.
He said the other driver was treated for minor injuries and later discharged from hospital.
It wasn’t the only trouble on Taranaki roads at the weekend.
On Saturday a car left the road and went into a river about two kilometres south of the Awakino tunnel on State Highway 3 at
2.55pm.
Nobody was injured and police were organising recovery of the vehicle.
Later in the evening police had to abandon the pursuit of a motorcyclist heading north along SH3, near the intersection with Airport Dr, Sergeant Pat Duffy said.
The rider, who was carrying a passenger, accelerated to 160kmh, double the 80kmh speed limit in the area, when they noticed the police following about 9.30pm.
‘‘They both looked back at me and took off.’’
Duffy said the road was wet and the motorcyclist sped past six cars while fleeing police, who pulled out of the chase because of the danger to other road users.
‘‘Those two were death on a stick.’’
Police later located the motorbike broken down, about
3.30am.
The bike was impounded but the rider, who was with it at the time, claimed he was just out for a test drive.
On Sunday a person was airlifted to Taranaki Base Hospital with serious injuries after their vehicle rolled on Mo¯ kau Rd near the Tongapo¯rutu Bridge about
12.30pm.
Anyone with information about the attempted burglary or red Nissan is encouraged to contact the New Plymouth police or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.