Man killed after police chase in Taranaki named as Phillip Allan Taylor

The man killed after a police chase in New Plymouth yesterday has been named as Phillip Allan Taylor, 32 who had around 60 convictions tacked to his name.

Taylor, of New Plymouth, died in a crash on Tarahua Rd, yesterday morning after trying to flee police.

Central District Commander Superintendent Sue Schwalger said Taylor, who was driving a BMW hatchback, drove past a police dog patrol at high speed on Junction St in New Plymouth about 12.30am.

"The police vehicle turned around and indicated for the BMW to stop, using its lights and siren," she said.

Police chased him after he failed to stop.

Schwalger said the pursuit lasted "a few minutes" before the BMW stopped suddenly and appeared to reverse and collide with the police vehicle.

A police car was rammed during a pursuit in New Plymouth yesterday morning. Photo / Supplied

"This disabled the police vehicle, and the pursuit was called off," she said.

Taylor then drove away at speed, and was found several minutes later by another patrol car, crashed into a power pole on Tarahua Rd.

Schwalger said the crash brought down power lines and when it was safe to approach the wreck, police found Taylor, the only person in the car, was dead.

A serious crash investigation and an internal police investigation are ongoing.

A power pole was knocked down on Tarahua Rd, New Plymouth, in the fatal crash. Photo / Abe Leach

The Independent Police Conduct Authority has also been notified.

A New Zealand Parole Board decision revealed he served two years and four months in prison following his conviction for charges of supplying methamphetamine and conspiring to deal in methamphetamine.

The 2016 hearing revealed he had around 60 convictions accumulated over 12 years, 15 of those were related to drug offending and 12 were related to breach of sentences or court orders.

"In the absence of a completed intervention to deal with what appears to the Board to be a significant issue with substance abuse and no release proposal sufficient to manage his risk, the Board could not be satisfied that his release would not pose an undue risk to the safety of the community

"We note since he was last before the Board in February he has incurred yet another IDU status," the board decision read.

Stuff has reported that Taylor was a patched member of Black Power and in 2011 was charged with conspiring to supply ecstasy, a Class B controlled drug, after a police operation targeting Australia-based bikie gang the Rebels and their associates.

He also had convictions for unlawfully possessing firearms, receiving stolen property, burglary and has served more than 20 prison sentences, Stuff reported.