Police car reversed into and smashed during Whangarei pursuit

A police car was rammed during a pursuit west of Whangarei.

The driver of a stolen four-wheel-drive vehicle trying to escape from police stopped and then reversed into a following patrol car causing significant damage.

Fortunately the solo police officer was not injured, but the driver of the fleeing vehicle failed to stop and kept heading west from Whangarei.

The driver and the silver or white coloured Toyota Prado or similar vehicle are yet to be located and police are appealing to anyone who knows where they are to contact them immediately.

The drama began about midnight on Wednesday after reports that a stolen 4x4 had been involved in running another vehicle off the road. The occupants of the stolen vehicle smashed the window of the other car and took cigarettes before driving off.

Police were notified and began searching for the 4x4, finding it on Maunu Rd near Tui Dairy. The vehicle failed to stop and headed west reaching speeds of up to 140km/h.

Sergeant Claire Carter said the fleeing vehicle braked near Cemetery Rd, and then reversed into the pursuing police vehicle before driving off.

The police car was extensively damaged and had to be towed.

Jayden Jameson was driving through the roadworks on Maunu Rd when he had to swerve to avoid the speeding 4X4 aimed right at him on the wrong side of the road.

"I was let through by the road workers and was heading towards town. It was down to one lane," said the 18-year-old driver.

"I could see a big four-wheel-drive coming towards me on the wrong side of the road. It really started speeding up and wasn't going to slow down. I flashed my lights but had to go as far left as I could."

He believes the oncoming vehicle slipped by with only centimetres to spare, crashing through cones as it sped off.

As he waited on the side of the road he could see the flashing red and blue lights of a police car. After it went past Mr Jameson said he did a U-turn and followed. The next time he saw the police car its bonnet was crushed.

Anyone with information should call Whangarei police station on 09 430 4500 or 0800 crimestoppers.