A helicopter, road spikes and police cars were used to stop a man in a stolen car who led police on a high speed chase around the Bay of Plenty yesterday.
A stolen Subaru stationwagon ended up on its side after the driver attempted to drive off a 2m high bank onto the road in an attempt to evade pursuit. The chase began in Rotorua about 7.50am. Police used the BayTrust Rescue Helicopter to keep an eye on the vehicle after officers abandoned their pursuit due to the dangerous nature of the alleged offender's driving.
The driver travelled from Rotorua towards Paengaroa then into Whakatane before heading through Edgecumbe and back towards Rotorua, before he was finally stopped near Lake Rotoma.
It is understood he travelled at high speed, drove dangerously on both sides of the road and allegedly stole petrol from a Whakatane service station.
At least two police cars were damaged during the pursuit and had to be towed away.
In a statement police said the driver ran over road spikes near Lake Rotoma on State Highway 30 and was followed by the helicopter as he attempted to hide down a driveway.
As police approached, the driver left the driveway and rolled the car as he attempted the jump off the bank. He was not injured.
A forecourt attendant at Whakatane's Caltex service station said the man had appeared calm as he put petrol in the car.
Another woman, who did not wish to be named, said the driver almost collected her head-on as he drove over a bridge on the wrong side of the road.
A 27-year-old Rotorua man has been arrested.