A Rangiora man who tried to save the life of a teenager involved in a car crash is pleading with young drivers to stick to the rules.
The female passenger, 18, was in a car that fled from police after reports of illegal street racing in Christchurch and the male driver, 18, is now facing charges.
A car resting in a garden with its bumper gone, wheels bent and the passenger doors crumpled - the aftermath of a crash so forceful, the car bounced off a tree.
Neighbours were woken up just before 5am on Sunday and were the first people to arrive at the devastating scene.
"Went over to see if we could help but yeah unfortunately the girl had passed and we tried everything we could," one man told Newshub.
The 18-year-old girl, one of four passengers, was pulled out from the vehicle.
"Quite a lot of panic from the young fellas obviously and I just started chest compressions but yeah to no avail, unfortunately."
Police were called to the nearby Fernside area after reports of illegal street racing.
Signs of that were found in the back seat and boot with spare tyres.
Police followed the car for a short time before it lost control on Oxford Road, crashing into a homeowner's property.
"He's in shock, he had a post come flying through his window so in a way that tree there might've saved his life," the neighbour continued.
As the wreckage was carefully winched away from the scene, the serious crash unit opened an investigation, and the IPCA was notified too.
After this morning's tragedy, those who tried to help have a message for other young drivers to stick to the rules.
"I know you're young, don't do that dumb extra stuff and keep your speed down because we're basically driving around in tin cans," he pleaded.
The male driver is due to appear in court next week on dangerous driving causing death, failing to stop, and other driving-related charges.
The family of his passenger who died are left to pick up the pieces of this fleeing driver incident.
