Driver runs away from hospital after crash

Police are looking for an 18-year-old man after an early-morning car crash on State Highway 1 near Wairau today.

Constable Dan Mattison of Blenheim police said the car crashed on Wairau Bridge around 3am, then caught fire and was burnt out.

The two occupants of the car were taken to Wairau Hospital by a passing motorist, with the passenger suffering head injuries.

But the 18-year-old driver of the car ran away when police arrived at the hospital, and remained at large despite being tracked by a police dog unit.

Mr Mattison said the car had been sought by police in relation to a number of petrol drive-offs in the past two days.

- NZPA