Police chase a double fatality

A second person has died after a crash near Palmerston North yesterday, when a stolen vehicle pursued by police hit a power pole.

One girl, 12, died at the scene, and the 15-year-old male driver died in Palmerston North Hospital. A second young woman, 15, in the car was sitting in the back seat. She suffered serious injuries.

The driver, who was on bail for several previous serious driving offences earlier this year, failed to stop for police on Monrad St, in Palmerston North’s western suburbs, at 1.30pm, Central District commander Superintendent Sue Schwalger said.

The blue Subaru car, which was stolen, was driven on to Pioneer Highway-State Highway 56, before crashing into a power pole at the intersection with Shirriffs Rd, near Longburn, a small settlement to the southwest of the city.

‘‘The front-seat passenger of the vehicle died at the scene,’’ Schwalger said.

The pursuit lasted 90 seconds, she said but it was not known what speed the car was travelling at.

Schwalger said at the time of the pursuit, the traffic was light, there was light drizzle and the road was actually quite dry.

‘‘When the officer first arrived, he could see the rear-seat passenger was trying to exit the vehicle.’’

A woman who works at Awapuni Nurseries said the car ended up in a ditch on the other side of the road from the pole.

‘‘We heard a loud bang in the office and then the power flashed. Then it was all just sirens, instantly.’’

O’Leary Engineering owner Dean Sandbrook heard the noise of screeching tyres from his office, before seeing a ‘‘flash of blue’’ as he turned his head.

‘‘I heard the tyres let go. I was on the phone at the time. It was going that bloody quick.’’

Witness Marc Bailey reported the police chase beginning near Palmerston North’s border, with the blue Subaru heading south.

He saw the beginning of the chase and then came across the crash soon after.

‘‘It was deep in the drain when I got there. I was stopping traffic as there was a power line across the road at head height. One of the cop cars didn’t stop and lost its lights on the wire.’’

Police cars and fire engines rushed to the scene after 1pm. Schwalger said a serious crash unit investigation and an internal inquiry would now begin. The Independent Police Conduct Authority would also be notified.

The chase involved one patrol car. The officer is getting support.

‘‘We heard a loud bang in the office and then the power flashed.’’ Awapuni Nursery worker