The Independent Police Conduct Authority will investigate a fatal crash that killed a teenager driving a stolen car after police began following the vehicle.
The Huntly teenager, aged 18, was driving a stolen car when he hit a car travelling in the opposite direction on State Highway 2 near Katikati in the Bay of Plenty about 5pm yesterday. He was killed.
The driver of the oncoming car, a 54-year-old man from Waihi, suffered moderate injuries and was in Tauranga Hospital in a stable condition, police said.
A spokeswoman said an investigation by the Independent Police Conduct Authority was "a matter of course when police have been following a vehicle prior to a crash".
The teenager who died was expected to be named later today.
Police are appealing to any witnesses to the crash or anyone who saw the stolen car driving in the area last night to call Tauranga Police on 07 577 4300 or Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.