Dunedin police spike, ram Beetle car to end high-speed chase that started in Christchurch

Police have arrested and charged a man involved in a high-speed chase from Christchurch to Dunedin.

The offender allegedly stole three vehicles - including one from a Good Samaritan - before being spiked in a VW Beetle in Waitati.

The late-model VW ended up in a ditch after being rammed by a police car and surrounded by armed officers pointing firearms at the driver.

Senior Sergeant Tony Woodbridge said there were reports the car had been travelling at speeds up to 130km/h or 140km/h.

“We have reports of him driving across double yellow lines, going on the wrong side of the road in blind corners. So it was a real danger for the public.”

With police following, the driver shot up Double Hill Rd near Waitati where the stolen VW was spiked three times.

With four spiked tyres, he made it back onto SH1 before being rammed.

The drama began when police responded to reports of a two-vehicle crash on Blenheim Rd in Christchurch around 6.45am.

Senior Sergeant Anthony Bond, of Dunedin, said a 30-year-old man fled the scene after stealing the other vehicle involved, a Lexus, and was located heading south on SH1.

Police activated their lights around 8am. However, the driver failed to stop and the vehicle was spiked and crashed on SH1 near Saltwater Creek.

The man allegedly stole a second vehicle, a Toyota, from a nearby address in Timaru and continued driving south.

Armed police approach the driver. Photo / Stephen Jaquiery, ODT

The man eluded police and abandoned the second vehicle after crashing into the Waitaki bridge, near Oamaru. He then stole the VW Beetle from a woman who stopped to assist at the crash scene.

Police located the man in that stolen VW near Palmerston but stopped the pursuit because of safety concerns.

Due to the man’s driving behaviour, a decision was made to close SH1 near Waitati to ensure the public’s safety.

After the vehicle was spiked around 10.20am, a 30-year-old man was taken into custody.

Traffic on State Highway 1 is now flowing again.

Area Commander Craig Brown said the incident was challenging for the police staff involved.

“These types of incidents are high-risk and rapidly changing. The objective of police is always to resolve them as safely as possible for all parties,” Brown said.

A witness in Palmerston saw a white Volkswagen Beetle being pursued by two police cars heading south at high speed through the town.

“The VW was driving very fast, probably around 100km/h through town. It looked like they were in a hurry.”

Another witness saw two unmarked police cars, a van and two marked patrol cars driving fast with lights flashing through the town.

Police are asking anyone who witnessed the VW between Timaru and Waitati to call 105.

Additional reporting by Staff reporter