A witness to a double fatal crash in Christchurch has told Newshub he heard a passenger screaming for someone to save his pregnant partner.
Police are yet to confirm if the woman killed in the crash was pregnant.
One man, the driver, died and a male passenger survived the crash that happened at 2:30am on Wednesday.
Police say they tried to stop the vehicle on Breezes Rd in Bromley but the driver failed to stop.
Canterbury Metro Commander, Superintendent Lane Todd told media the crash was a "tragic outcome no one wanted".
The survivor is recovering in Christchurch Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
"It's extremely surprising anyone has survived it," Superintendent Todd says.
Matt Ngatai told Newshub his partner heard a bang and woke him up.
"First thing we heard, a man yelling his partner was in the car and she was pregnant could he get her out," Mr Ngatai says.
Police say they followed the vehicle for under a minute before it was abandoned due to dangerous driving.
It was found a short time later crashed at the corner of Cuthberts Rd and Breezes Rd. Three people were in the vehicle, the deceased died at the scene.
Superintendent Todd says the crash reiterates the fact that people must stop if they are signalled to by police.
"The crash is a tragic outcome that nobody wants police to encourage any driver that is signalled to stop to in fact stop it's not worth putting your life your passenger's life at risk.
"No police officer comes to work to be involved in an incident where potentially innocent people are killed."
Speed was a factor in the crash.
Police are aware of how fast the vehicle was travelling in the 50kph zone but are yet to confirm it.
"The vehicle was travelling at significant speeds," Superintendent Todd says.
A full investigation into the circumstances of the crash is underway.
Police expect to identify the deceased and notify their next-of-kin by Wednesday afternoon.
The area remains cordoned off.
Newshub.
