Police have charged an officer with dangerous driving causing death after a fatal pursuit involving a Northland teenager.

Angel Riley, 17, died after her car hit a tree in Whangārei on December 22, 2023, after a police pursuit.

An officer identified only as Officer A is accused of following Riley in his patrol vehicle after she turned around near a police checkpoint on Whangārei Heads Rd.

Minutes later, her vehicle hit a tree on Beach Rd, Onerahi. She died at the scene.

Her mother, Mahlee Munroe, said the family were told of the pending charge on June 26.

The whānau confirmed today that the officer had been charged with dangerous driving causing death.

Police have been approached for comment. They said earlier that Officer A had co-operated with the investigation.

Before Riley died, she had signed up for an armed forces course the following year at People Potential.

Munroe said Riley’s dream had been to join the army.

She had also been dedicated to boxing and longed to be in an amateur fight.

But that future was stolen from her, Munroe said.

“It’s just shattering. It’s such a waste... She had a bright future ahead of her.”

She was a meticulous planner, and her old journals listed many goals.

“I just cry reading all the things she had planned to do,” Munroe said.

Riley grew up in Auckland and had become well-travelled at a young age.

As a youngster, she visited Thailand and Argentina, and at 6 she flew to Brazil on her own in the company of a stewardess.

“She was quite a brave little cookie,” Munroe said.

“Because of those experiences, it made her more worldly and more understanding of different people and different environments.

“She could just talk to anyone from any walk of life.”

Brodie Stone covers crime and emergency for the Northern Advocate. She has spent most of her life in Whangārei and is passionate about delving into issues that matter to Northlanders and beyond.