Police clock car at 200km/h fleeing officers on Auckland motorway network, driver to face court

A car was clocked reaching 200km/h as it fled police in a 35km dash across two Auckland motorways overnight.

Waitematā West area response manager Senior Sergeant Jon Winthrop said the incident started around 2.20am when police identified a vehicle of interest travelling on Moire Rd, Massey.

Winthrop said the driver was under a licence suspension and should not have been driving.

“Under red and blue lights, officers signalled for the vehicle to stop near the intersection of Moire Rd and Royal Rd.

“The driver pulled into a carpark and indicated his intention to stop, before quickly accelerating towards the motorway onramp.”

He said the vehicle got onto the Northwestern Motorway and began travelling south, reaching speeds of up to 200km/h.

Due to the dangerous nature of the driving, the vehicle was not chased, he said.

Instead, the vehicle was tracked by the network of motorway cameras, with the driver travelling onto the Southern Motorway and then heading down South Auckland streets.

“The vehicle came to a stop on Charles Prevost Drive, Manurewa after the driver observed a police patrol vehicle deploying road spikes.”

Winthrop said the driver was taken into custody without incident.

It is roughly 35km from Moire Rd, Massey, to Charles Prevost Dr.

Winthrop said officers who went to retrieve the driver’s possessions located cannabis and other paraphernalia inside the vehicle.

The driver was served with a 28-day licence suspension, and his vehicle was impounded.

A 21-year-old man was due to appear in Waitākere District Court next Monday, charged with failing to stop, driving in a dangerous manner, possession of cannabis, and possession of a pipe or utensil for cannabis.