This release can be attributed to Rotorua Area Commander, Inspector Bruce Horne.
Around midnight last night, a young woman died after her car crashed into a stream in Rotorua.
Shortly before the crash Police had seen the vehicle being driven through an intersection erratically and at speed.
A police patrol attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver continued at speed along Tarewa Road. About 1 km from where the police first tried to stop the vehicle, the driver of the car has failed to negotiate a moderate bend. The vehicle has become airborne, travelled over the bank of a stream and then collided with the berm on the far side of the stream.
The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The three passengers in the vehicle were treated for minor injuries.
This is a tragedy for the families involved and our thoughts are with them at this time. Serious crashes are also heart-breaking for police staff and those from other emergency services. This incident highlights the risk of driving at speed and the tragic consequences that can result when a driver refuses to stop and instead chooses to evade the police.
The matter has been referred to the IPCA and we are also conducting our own investigation, both of which are standard procedure.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre