Boys ram police cars to escape in high-speed Taranaki chase

A teenage driver rammed two police cars out of the way to escape during a high-speed chase in Taranaki. Photo / File

Two 16-year-olds rammed police cars during a dangerous chase that hit speeds of up to 150km/h.

Police attempted to stop a car stolen from Taranaki Base Hospital just before 3pm on Sunday but it failed to stop and fled police, said Sergeant Bruce Irvine.

Police abandoned the pursuit after the driver started to reach dangerous speeds.

The vehicle was located again on State Highway 3 south of New Plymouth and police started following again while otehr officers set up cordons.

Road spikes were put in place on Egmont Road but the driver avoided them, irvine said.

"The driver eventually stopped near Lake Mangamahoe and was blocked by two patrol cars, both of which the offender rammed."

Still, the driver fled again before hitting a bank nearby.

Another patrol car was needed to stop the vehicle.

Three police cars were damaged during the incident.

Two 16-year-old boys were arrested.

The driver is facing three charges of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, two of dangerous driving, aggravated failing to stop, two of attempting to unlawfully take motor vehicles and one of reckless driving.

He is due to reappear in the New Plymouth Youth Court on July 31.

The passenger has been remanded on bail to reappear on the same date facing one charge of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle and two of attempting to unlawfully take motor vehicles.