A 16-year-old boy has died following a three car crash in Christchurch yesterday in which a speeding car pursued by police ploughed across a concrete median and into oncoming traffic.
Inspector Gary Knowles, of Christchurch police, said the local boy, who was a passenger in the white Pontiac being followed by a police patrol car, died overnight.
A post-mortem was to be carried out this morning to determine his cause of death.
The full details and name of the deceased would be released after police had liaised with next of kin.
Three major police investigations have been launched into the crash, which happened just before 10am yesterday, on Buckleys Rd, outside Eastgate Mall in Linwood.
Six people -- including a baby -- were injured.
Police said they were not chasing the car, but were following it after officers had stopped it nearby, only for the car to speed away.
As well as the boy who died, two other males in the car were injured, one of them seriously.
Mr Knowles said the criminal investigation into the crash continued, with the main focus to identify the cause and locate witnesses in the area at the time.
The matter has been referred to the Police Complaints Authority, which is working with the investigation team.
It was expected the investigation would take some days and the initial scene examination had now been completed, he said.
Christchurch police would like to hear form anyone who may have witnessed the events prior to the crash and the actual crash itself.
A 12-month-old baby and its parents, who were in a green Subaru struck by the Pontiac, were also admitted to hospital, but their conditions were not thought to be life-threatening.
It is understood the Pontiac was first stopped by two police officers on the corner of Gloucester St and England St.
The Pontiac allegedly did three "donuts" before leaving one officer standing there while the other pursued the car.
It swiped another car on Pages Rd before turning into Buckleys Rd.
Police estimate the car was travelling at 100km/h before it crossed the raised median strip, crashed through a lamppost, clipped a small tree, then rammed the Subaru, which was also hit by a campervan following behind. The campervan occupants were not seriously hurt.
Mr Knowles said police knew the men in the car.
A Christchurch District Health Board spokeswoman said one person was discharged last night, while the other four remain in the hospital's care.
The baby and its mother were both in a "comfortable and stable" condition.
Another person injured in the accident is stable, and the fourth is in the intensive care Unit in a serious condition.
- NZPA
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