Police have called for drivers to stop fleeing after two people were killed in a high speed chase in the early hours of Monday morning.
The crash occurred in the Auckland suburb of Morningside when a car ploughed into a tree following a police pursuit along the North Western motorway. Three other people are in moderate to serious condition.
Auckland Central Police Detective Inspector Scott Beard said police are conducting an investigation into the pursuit.
“We believe that the pursued vehicle was overtaking another vehicle…and it lost control on the grass median strip and hit a tree.”
The car had been travelling at approximately 130km/hr in an 80km/hr zone.
The car took the St Lukes off-ramp and, when trying to overtake another car, crashed into a tree on St Lukes Road.
Five people were in the vehicle.
The deceased are a 25-year-old Auckland woman and a 29-year-old Auckland man.
“We need to stop people fleeing from police. It’s a risk to our community, a risk to the driver, to the passengers, and to police staff.
“Today we have two families which are now suffering the tragedy of losing loved ones.”
Det Beard said it’s too early to say whether alcohol was involved.
He said police will release the names of the deceased passengers once next of kin have been notified.
The driver, believed to be a 22-year-old man, and two other male passengers in their 20s have been hospitalised with moderate to serious injuries.
Neighbour Morwenna Fyfe witnessed the "traumatic" aftermath of the crash, saying the noise was so loud it woke her up.
“It sounded like it was right next door. I got up and looked out the window, it was a scene.”
“More and more cars kept turning up, 12 to 15 police cars and ambulances, and a fire engine.”
Newshub.
