A man has died after his vehicle crashed into a power pole while it was being followed by Police.
The incident began around 7.40pm when a Toyota appeared to deliberately ram a parked Police car in Opunake before heading south on towards Manaia.
The Toyota was spotted travelling at excessive speed a short time later by a Highway Patrol vehicle which initiated a pursuit but very quickly lost sight of the Toyota. Another Police vehicle then spotted the Toyota still travelling south. The Police vehicle, which was travelling in the opposite direction, turned round, activated lights and sirens and headed after the Toyota.
At approximately 7.55pm the Police vehicle had travelled through Manaia and came across the Toyota vehicle which had crashed into a power pole near the Kearin Road intersection.
The 36-year-old male driver from New Plymouth was taken to hospital in a critical condition and died later in the evening.
The cause of the crash is under investigation and the Independent Police Complaints Authority (IPCA) has been informed, as is policy when Police are following vehicles that crash.
The name of the man will not be released until next of kin have been notified.
Anyone with information relevant to this crash investigation is asked to contact Hawera Police on 06 278 0260.
Media enquiries should be referred to Communications Manager Kim Perks on 027 234 8256.