A pregnant woman's vehicle was rear-ended by an alleged teenage car thief after she stopped to avoid road spikes.
The Wednesday afternoon incident happened on State Highway 1 near Puhoi, after a long chase that began in south Auckland.
Around 1:50pm police in Manurewa failed to stop a stolen vehicle, starting a chase along the Southern Motorway. Once the vehicle hit the Northern Motorway, police pulled back and followed the vehicle via helicopter.
They laid spikes just north of just north of the Johnstones Hill Tunnels.
"An innocent member of the public has attempted to stop to avoid the spikes and the offending vehicle has then driven into the back of her car," said Rodney area commander Insp Bruce O'Brien.
The pair in the stolen vehicle were arrested shortly after - the driver 14, and the passenger only 11.
"The 11-year-old has been returned to his home with a referral to Youth Aid, and the 14-year-old has appeared in the Youth Court today on very serious charges, which include unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, reckless driving causing injury, burglary, escapes custody and failing to stop," said Insp O'Brien.
The pregnant woman was taken to North Shore Hospital as a precaution, and both her and the baby were fine - police have visited her to make sure.
"I am very grateful to be able to say today that this member of our community is okay, but this could have well been a very different outcome," said Insp O'Brien.
"It was imperative that police continued to monitored the situation but the last thing we ever want is for a member of the public to get injured while police are trying to stop a fleeing driver."
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An internal investigation has been launched and the Independent Police Conduct Authority has been notified. Police are also working with Oranga Tamariki, Insp O'Brien making a plea to parents to bring up their children right.
"Parents and caregivers have a major role in ensuring that we don't have teenagers and children driving stolen vehicles around.
"Police cannot arrest our way out of this problem, but we also cannot solve this issue alone."
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