IPCA to review latest police pursuit deaths

Two people have been killed and five people injured in two separate police pursuits in Auckland this weekend.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) will investigate the death of a 33-year-old man after a short high-speed police chase in Mangere, south Auckland, last night, the 17th such death in a record-breaking year.

The man died instantly after crashing while fleeing police at about 11.30pm on Kirkbride Road, just north of Auckland Airport, after a chase reaching speeds of more than 100km/h in a 60km/h zone.

The black Subaru lost control on a bend between Ascot Road and George Bolt Drive, about 30 seconds after a police car began chasing the allegedly speeding vehicle.

Two passengers, aged 27 and 29, are in Middlemore Hospital with serious and moderate injuries. Both are in a stable condition.

It was reported the car became airborne before hitting a kerb, after which it hit a road sign.

It was the 17th death following a police pursuit this year, a record number.

The IPCA will also investigate a second pursuit today, where four people were hospitalised after being flung from a car fleeing police in Manakau, southeast Auckland.

A female passenger died after sustaining critical injuries this afternoon, and two others are in a serious condition at Middlemore Hospital. The male driver has moderate injuries.

Police said they spoke to an occupant of the car at Maraetai beach about noon, but the driver fled.

Shortly after, police tried to stop the car but abandoned the chase when "the standard of driving by the offending male deteriorated".

Soon after, the stolen vehicle was found crashed in a ditch on Chapel Road, Botany, 23km southeast of central Auckland, Counties Manukau Inspector Jason Malcolm said

Police pursuits that result in death or serious injury are notified to the IPCA for independent investigation. The IPCA had been notified of both incidents, police said.

The Serious Crash Unit is also investigating. The separate investigations will also be peer-reviewed by an independent out of district crash investigator, as part of standard procedure, police say.

Mr Malcolm said police are in a difficult position when it comes to a fleeing driver failing to stop, but ultimately the responsibility rests with drivers.

"The important question that needs to be considered is why an individual feels the need to avoid speaking to police?

"Drivers who flee from police put themselves and innocent road users at great risk", he said.

Police are appealing for witnesses to either crash.

The Mangere death comes two days after the IPCA cleared police of blame over two separate pursuits that left three people dead earlier this year.

The IPCA found no aspect of police officers' conduct could be faulted over the deaths of Steven John Gorrie and Makoto Izumi in Dome Valley, near Warkworth, north of Auckland, on April 4 and Ricky Allan Forbes near Murchison, 130km southwest of Nelson, on February 21.

- NZPA, NZHERALD STAFF