Police say a 15-year-old was behind the wheel when a stolen car crashed in Lower Hutt.

Police pursued the blue Subaru through Wainuiomata around midday.

At one point it tore through a church lawn just before worshippers were due to come out of the service.

The Subaru crashed into a parked car on Fitzherbert Road, but didn’t stop.

Police managed to stop the vehicle about 50 metres further down the road.

The driver has moderate injuries from the crash.

Police have referred the matter to Youth Aid, and the Serious Crash Unit is investigating.