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Man flees police in Auckland, allegedly drove on wrong side of road

Author
NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Wed, 20 Jan 2021, 4:44PM
The destroyed tyre and rim of the vehicle. Photo / Hayden Wooodward
The destroyed tyre and rim of the vehicle. Photo / Hayden Wooodward

Man flees police in Auckland, allegedly drove on wrong side of road

Author
NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Wed, 20 Jan 2021, 4:44PM

A man who allegedly drove at speed often on the wrong side of the road and crashed into several vehicles while fleeing police in West Auckland this afternoon has been taken into custody.

Inspector Peter Raynes said police were alerted to reports of a person trying to steal a motor vehicle at the Westgate Shopping Centre shortly before 1.30pm.

Seven minutes later police attempted to stop the stolen vehicle on Royal View Rd in Massey.

"The driver, who we now know was also wanted by police in relation to serious offending, has failed to stop for police and has fled," Raynes said.

The Eagle Police helicopter monitored overhead, he said.

Raynes said the vehicle continued to drive dangerously, often driving on the wrong side of the road, on footpaths and at speed, putting pedestrians and other motorists at risk.

"The vehicle has collided with a number of vehicles driven by members of the public.

"Thankfully no one was injured."

Tyre deflation devices were used, slowing the vehicle down. Police then followed at a distance.

The vehicle was blocked in by ground staff on Universal Drive and the alleged offender was apprehended without incident about 3.06pm.

"He was swiftly taken into custody and will face a number of serious charges."

Another driver on the road this afternoon, who only wanted to be identified as Glen, first noticed several police cars turning off at a large roundabout heading towards Westgate.

"I was going through Kumeu and I noticed this maroon Nissan pulsar zooming - it just seemed like it was going a hundred miles an hour," he said.

"I looked in my rear-vision mirror and it looked like his rear tyres were flat.

"I thought 'sh*t he's running from something'."

Later, just out of Kumeu near a vineyard, the motorist noticed a police officer ahead seemed to be getting ready to lay spikes on the road.

The motorist pulled over.

"The maroon Nissan pular zoomed straight past me again ... They were really moving."

There were at least two unmarked police cars and three marked police cars following behind, he said.

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