Five fatal crashes

Four people died on the roads on Saturday night. In Auckland a motorcyclist died after crashing into a parked car while fleeing police. Police said the male rider, travelling at speed, did not stop for officers about 1.15am yesterday and failed to negotiate a roundabout. In the central North Island a person died on State Highway 1, south of Waiouru, about 5.45am yesterday. In Northland, a man drowned after a van plunged into a creek at Omanaia, west of Kaikohe, about 10pm on Saturday. Also in Northland a passenger died after the car he was in hit a tree. The crash occurred on SH1 in Towai about midnight, police said. Earlier on Saturday a man died after his car hit a power pole near Hawera in South Taranaki, about 4.15pm.