Car clocked at 200km/h in police pursuit

A 25-year-old Tauranga man has been charged with failing to stop for police, driving while disqualified and dangerous driving. Photo / Thinkstock

A disqualified driver led police on a chase which reached speeds up to 200km/h through the central North Island today.

The pursuit, which police said could have had devastating consequences, came to an abrupt end when the vehicle skidded into a waiting police patrol.

Inspector Paul Jermy, of the central communications centre, said the Nissan Skyline was first spotted doing about 130km/h on the Desert Rd near Waiouru about 5.35pm.

The pursuit was abandoned as the vehicle sped into the small town and then turned onto State Highway 49, heading for Ohakune at speeds estimated to be up to 180km/h.

"As it neared Ohakune it rounded a bend at a speed estimated by the local police staff to be about 200km/h," Jermy said.

The driver then saw that police cars were parked on the road-side ahead and hit the brakes.

"He braked heavily, lost control of the vehicle and slid for approximately 200m and struck the back of a patrol car."

Fortunately, the vehicle had lost momentum by the time it hit the police car and the attending officers and driver were uninjured.

Once he realised he couldn't go any further he gave himself up.

The pursuit lasted about 15 minutes.

The 25-year-old Tauranga man has been charged with failing to stop for police, driving while disqualified and dangerous driving. Further charges were possible, Jermy said.

"He was driving in a risky manner - a dangerous manner - prior to police seeing him.

Then he continued to drive in a worse manner while we were pursuing him, and even after we initially abandoned the pursuit he continued to drive at high speed," Jermy said.

"The major concern to us was that this chap was a considerable risk to the public regardless of whether or not we pursued him. It was fortunate it ended without injury to anyone as the manner of his driving was such that it could have ended a lot worse."