Please attribute to Inspector Sam Aberahama, Tairawhiti Area Commander:
A 22-year-old Gisborne man was killed in a crash in Frasertown, Wairoa just after 7.30pm last night. Police is not yet in a position to release his name.
Another man was flown to Hawke’s Bay Hospital in a critical condition and is now stable.
Two other men were taken to Wairoa Hospital for treatment and have since been discharged.
Prior to the crash, Police had observed the vehicle speeding at 7:27pm and signalled to the driver to pull over. The driver failed to stop and fled from Police.
At 7:30pm the officer chose to abandon the pursuit as they no longer had sight of the fleeing vehicle.
Shortly after this, at 7:38pm Police received a report that a vehicle had crashed on Awamate Road.
Police have since established this vehicle was the same one being driven by the fleeing driver in the pursuit just minutes earlier.
A Serious Crash Unit investigation is underway to establish the full circumstances of the crash.
The pursuit has been referred to the IPCA.
ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre