Passenger dies after driver flees police, crashes in South Auckland

A car passenger has died after a driver fled police and crashed.

At 10.07pm, a suspicious vehicle stopped on Clevedon Rd, Papakura. When police stopped to make inquiries with the driver, the vehicle accelerated away.

No pursuit was initiated.

Several minutes later the vehicle was located by another police unit after it had crashed into a pole at the intersection of Porchester Rd and Walters Rd, Takanini.

"The driver fled the scene and police immediately rendered medical assistance to the two remaining occupants of the vehicle," police said in a statement.

"Sadly, one of the passengers died at the scene."

A second passenger sustained serious injuries.

The driver of the vehicle was located a short time later and had sustained moderate injuries.

"This is a devastating event for everyone involved," Counties Manukau District Commander Superintendent Jill Rogers said.

"When you are signalled to stop by police, just stop. It's not worth someone being injured, or worse, losing a life."

A person who saw the aftermath of the crash said the windshield of the vehicle had shattered and the airbags had flung out.

"It was a real mess," he said.

Neighbours were out on the street while police cordoned off the area, he said.

The Serious Crash Unit has attended the scene and an investigation is ongoing.

The incident will be referred to the IPCA.