Stolen car occupants apologise and run off

A woman in a stolen car which crashed into another vehicle apologised to an injured couple from Australia before running off.

The visiting couple had been heading to Northland in a rental car when a south-bound stolen Subaru Impreza collided with them on State Highway One, 3km north of Kaiwaka, about 5.20am yesterday.

A female in the stolen blue Subaru approached the couple and apologised before both occupants of the stolen car scampered off in opposite directions.

"It was dark but the female's gone to the car with the Australian tourists, said she was sorry and run off," said Senior Constable Warren Bunn.

"We believe one vehicle crossed the centre line because it was quite a straight road. We're continuing investigations to find out [what vehicle crossed]," he said.

Senior Constable Dan Hales said the Australian woman, who was a passenger in the rental car, was airlifted to hospital in a serious condition.

"The female has sustained quite severe injuries and her husband was comforting her in hospital. She had suspected neck, rib and pelvis injuries and he had minor chest injuries," Mr Hales said.

Witnesses had reported seeing one of the occupants of the stolen Subaru being picked up by a flat-back truck and asked anyone who had given a hitchhiker a lift to contact them.

"Also, to these guys, to leave the scene prior to police arriving in an injury accident - we'd request the driver and the passenger came forward," Mr Hales said.

The vehicle had been stolen between 10.30pm on Thursday and 5.20am yesterday from a Wolfe St address in Whangarei. The couple had just landed in New Zealand from Australia and were heading to Kerikeri to visit family. The injured woman's husband is a Kiwi.

Mr Hales hoped to be speaking to the couple in the next two days.

The male was discharged from hospital and the female was in a stable condition yesterday.

Mr Hales said the stolen Subaru had been forensically investigated.

Anyone who saw a blue Subaru Impreza with gold mag wheels some time between 10.30pm and 5.20am yesterday or anyone who picked up a hitchhiker around the time of the accident is asked to contact Dan Hales on 4304500 or, to remain anonymous, Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.