Boy in high-speed crash had a learner's licence

The 15-year-old who crashed his car at the weekend after a high-speed police chase held only a learner's licence, officers revealed yesterday.

He therefore should not have been driving in the early hours of Sunday morning and should not have been carrying the four teenage passengers injured in the crash, a police spokesman said.

The Subaru Legacy driven by the teenager had twice been pursued by separate police patrols after it was spotted travelling at high speed on State Highway 1 north of Kaitaia.

The car was estimated to have been travelling at more than 140km/h when its headlights were switched off as it sped north.

One of the youngsters injured in the crash was in a serious but stable condition at Whangarei Hospital's intensive care unit last night.

Two other boys were discharged from the hospital yesterday, while a girl remained in a satisfactory condition in Kaitaia Hospital.

Far North Police Area commander Inspector Mike Rusbatch said a decision about what charges the driver might face would be made by the end of the week.