Man orders taxi as getaway car

A man who allegedly ordered a taxi as a getaway car after abandoning a stolen vehicle in a police pursuit will appear in Dunedin District Court today.

Police allege the 40-year-old man evaded patrol cars in Oamaru at speeds up to 100km/h, sideswiping a police car before the pursuit was called off about 10.30am.

The man abandoned the vehicle a short time later before he got into Shige Koyama's taxi in the central business district.

Mr Koyama told the Otago Daily Times it "got a bit scary" when police flashed their lights and he realised his passenger was using the car as a getaway vehicle.

"He told me not to stop, but I said I have to," he said.

The passenger got out and was arrested by police when the taxi pulled over.

The man was charged with unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, failing to give his details, driving while disqualified and dangerous driving.

- NZPA