A young motorcyclist who fled from police conducting an early morning drink-drive stop was found by officers minutes later pinned between between his bike and a fence.
The 20-year-old man had come across a police drink driving checkpoint on Welcome Bay Rd about 1.50am yesterday but swerved around a police officer attempting to flag him down, Western Bay of Plenty Senior Sergeant Ian Campion said.
The man then sped off down State Highway 29 toward Poike Rd, Mr Campion said.
Police followed the direction the motorcylist took but were unable to actually see the motorcyclist.
The officers planned to turn around at Poike Rd roundabout and return to the Welcome Bay checkpoint stop but when at the roundabout, found a skid mark leading to the trapped motorcyclist.
"They found the motorcyclist pinned between the motorcycle and a fence at the corner of the roundabout of Poike Rd and SH29."
Police called ambulance staff and the man was taken to Tauranga Hospital with injuries to his back, pelvis, arms and legs but it was not believed he was seriously hurt.
Mr Campion said police were waiting on blood results to establish if the man had alcohol in his system.
It was not clear at this stage if the pursuing police had activated their lights and sirens, he said.