Driver on rim spins out on Northwestern Motorway after police spiking

A runaway driver on Auckland’s Northwestern Motorway halted traffic late this morning as the stolen vehicle spun out across several lanes.

In footage taken just after 11am, the Mazda Demio can be seen swerving and losing control near the Lincoln Rd offramp after police spiked it at Onehunga.

A witness said he was driving to work on State Highway 16 when he noticed a man driving the small hatchback without a front right tyre.

“I saw it was like a tyre that was just off. He was just driving on his rim, and I was like, oh, what the f***”, he said.

The Mazda Demio spun out across multiple lanes on State Highway 16. Photo / Supplied

He decided to begin filming as the driver started to spin out across multiple lanes before coming to a stop.

The car was reportedly quickly surrounded by police officers.

“We’re turned around and then there’s like five cop cars that just started jumping out their cars and just trying to catch him.”

The witness said the driver did not hit any other vehicles but caused traffic backlogs as other motorists were blocked by the chaotic scene.

A police spokesperson said officers encountered the vehicle, which had been stolen, in Lynfield at 10.35am.

“Eagle was able to follow the car at a distance as it drove along State Highway 20. A short time later the vehicle was spiked at Onehunga.”

Police followed the driver onto the Northwestern Motorway where two young people were taken into custody at the scene.