A 37-year-old South Auckland gang member is in Waikato Hospital with serious spinal injuries after he crashed his motorbike on the outskirts of Hamilton last night.
The man lost control of his Ducati motorbike just after midnight on a bend on Tuhikaramea Rd, west of Hamilton, just south of Collins Rd. He was taken to Waikato Hospital with back injuries.
The man is wanted by police on a number of matters and his house was searched yesterday by Counties-Manukau police as part of an operation targetting Black Power members. That operation resulted in the seizure of substantial amounts of methamphetamine, cannabis, firearms, stolen property and cash.
Hamilton City area commander Inspector Paul Carpenter said the man first came to police attention just before midnight last night when the bike was seen driving at speed on Ellicot Rd in Dinsdale. A police patrol began following the bike as it drove erratically around several streets in the suburb. Mr Carpenter said the bike sped off, then slowed right down several times and the driver appeared to be struggling to control the bike.
The bike continued on to Tuhikaramea Rd and crashed on a slight bend.
The man remains in Waikato Hospital today in a serious condition. Mr Carpenter said because police were involved in the incident, a report would be sent to the Police Complaints Authority.