Police cars hit in 180km/h pursuit
Two police cars were damaged in an hour-long chase of a fleeing motorist that hit speeds of up to 180km/h around Kaitaia.
In yesterday's early morning chase another officer in a patrol car was forced into a ditch when he took evasive action to avoid a
head-on collision with the speeding driver.
The drama began about 2am when a car was spotted doing wheel spins on Commerce St.
Kaitaia police Senior Sergeant Gordon Gunn said police tried to stop the driver but he fled north at about 120km/h in a 50km/h zone.
The chase tracked through Kaitaia streets with the speeding car allegedly driving on the wrong side of the road and speeding past stop signs.
The car finally stopped on South Rd but as the patrol car pulled in behind the driver reversed rapidly, ramming the patrol car. The front of the police car was badly damaged.
The driver then allegedly drove at a second police car, chasing it in circles before side-swiping it and forcing it off the road.
The chase continued to the Waipapakauri Tavern, north of Kaitaia, where the car turned around and headed south again.
A third police car that had joined the chase was forced into the ditch when the driver was believed to be heading straight towards it at 180km/h.
The car continued to Ahipara then towards Herekino where the driver narrowly missed an oncoming driver on a one-way bridge.
After looping through back roads the driver stopped 2km from Panguru. He leapt from the car and tried to flee on foot but was caught by police officers.
? A 33-year-old Kaitaia forestry worker appeared in court yesterday on numerous driving charges. He was remanded in custody until May 3.
