A 29-year-old driver who allegedly led police on a pursuit through Whangarei was arrested after his car was spiked.
The man caught the attention of police after they saw sparks coming from the vehicle he was driving on Western Hills Drive about 10pm on Sunday. Police activated their lights andsirens but the man failed to stop, said Senior Sergeant Cliff Metcalfe.
A pursuit, which lasted 20 minutes, ensued. Mr Metcalfe said the pursuit went through Kamo, on to Pipiwai Road and ended after the vehicle was spiked on Apotu Road and Crane Road, at Kauri.
Mr Metcalfe said a 29-year-old Whangarei man was arrested.
The pursuit comes after a 23-year-old driver hit a road sign after leading police on a pursuit through Whangarei on Saturday about 2am. The man was pursued by police after he was spotted driving at speed through Bank St. He then lost control going around a bend and crashed into a road sign.
Meanwhile, the driver who died after fleeing police and crashing into an SUV in Auckland on Saturday night has been named as 32-year-old Northland man Eden Hoey.
The crash happened after police tried to stop a black saloon car on Great South Rd about 10.30pm. The vehicle fled and a short police pursuit ensued, a police spokesman said.
It is understood the speeding car careered through the intersection at speeds of up to 120km/h and bounced off a parked vehicle, smashing into an SUV.
