Two end up in river after police chase

Two people were plucked from the Heathcote River in Christchurch after the car they fled police in hit spikes and plunged into the river.

A police spokeswoman said the car was seen travelling at high speeds along Ferry Rd in a 60kmh area in central Christchurch about 11pm on Tuesday.

The driver failed to stop and police chased the car. It was stopped with road spikes about 10 minutes later, before crashing into the nearby Heathcote River in Woolston.

She said that shortly after the crash, officers arrested two people, who were in the river next to the floating car.

Police have dealt with at least seven pursuits in the past nine days in Christchurch. Six people have also died three in crashes in the city since November, while travelling in cars that were initially pursued by police.

This most recent chase comes hours after the driver of a white van was also pursued and stopped with road spikes on Tuesday morning. Police said the chase started about 1.30am in Mairehau, where a suspicious white van was seen. Road spikes stopped the driver, who then ran off but was tracked by police dogs and arrested.

Hours earlier, police pursued another driver who failed to stop on Union St, New Brighton, about 10.45pm.

Police suspected the driver was in a stolen car. The pursuit was abandoned on Dyers Rd, a police spokesman earlier said. Inquiries were continuing yesterday morning.