Police say they pulled out of a pursuit of a stolen car shortly before it crashed in Auckland today.
The crash happened at the intersection of Patumahoe and Waiuku Roads in Pukekohe about 3pm.
Police said they began chasing the silver Nissan after it seen speeding in a rural area
but abandoned the chase about 30 seconds before it collided with a Ford Falcon.
The pursuit lasted "one or two minutes", Counties Manukau area commander Inspector Gary Hill told Radio New Zealand.
"The officers pulled over, completely stopped the pursuit, the vehicle has then continued on ... and completely gone through a stop sign and collected a member of the public," he said.
A woman, the sole occupant of the other car, was shaken but not injured.
"It's very amazing that the female driver has not been more seriously injured or worse, killed," Mr Hill said.
"If that vehicle had collided half a second later the situation could have been a lot worse.
"Both vehicles are a complete write-off and it's quite a horrific scene."
Members of the public reported seeing a second person flee the Nissan on foot but police had not been able to verify the sightings.
Mr Hill said the serious crash unit was investigating but an initial assessment suggested police had done nothing wrong.
"I think at this stage, obviously there's an investigation ongoing, but initially it appears police were justified in attempting to stop the vehicle and police have done everything by the book," he said.
- NZPA
