A fleeing driver nearly smashed into a milk tanker and a tree prevented a police car from plummeting off a forestry road during a series of high-speed chases in Whangarei.
Police are warning that fleeing motorists put their lives as well as other road users at risk by their panicky reaction in trying to avoid being stopped.
Whangarei police Sergeant Shane Turner issued the warning following three police chases in Whangarei, Otaika Valley Rd, Maungakaramea and Hikurangi within about two hours early Saturday morning.
Two of the fleeing drivers had been disqualified from driving and were breaching bail conditions.
Both abandoned the vehicles they were driving and ran away but were arrested with the help of a police dog.
The first chase spanned 54km along rural roads and highways between Whangarei and Hikurangi. The fleeing driver had a 16-year-old female passenger seated next to him in the car.
Mr Turner said the 25-year-old driver failed to stop in Manse St in central Whangarei at about 12.25am on Saturday and a chase ensued. At one stage the driver narrowly missed smashing into a milk tanker near a junction.
The vehicle, a Mitsubishi, was driven through Hikurangi township before heading into a forestry road.
A police car giving chase slid off the road and came to rest against a tree that prevented it plunging down a bank.
"The lone officer in the car was not injured," Mr Turner said.
"The tree stopped the car from plummeting down to God knows where. It was stuck there for an hour and had to be pulled out."
The disqualified driver allegedly abandoned the car and fled on foot but was found a short time later.
He appeared in the Whangarei District Court on Saturday on charges of driving while disqualified and breach of bail.
He was remanded in custody.
The second chase involved a Subaru that had been allegedly stolen from Marsden Point Rd late on Friday.
A Dargaville police unit spotted the vehicle on Otaika Valley Rd heading towards Maungakaramea, but lost sight of it while in pursuit.
At about 2.20am the same officers chased a four-wheel-drive vehicle with no headlights and towing a trailer in Maungakaramea.
The driver allegedly smashed through a farm gate before abandoning the vehicle and trailer.
He was found soon after.
"The drivers in both chases were not drunk and told police they were remorseful," Mr Turner said.
"Nothing positive came out of them fleeing police and now they are facing worse consequences as a result of their action.
"Our message to drivers is don't panic. Stop and deal with the consequences."