Six in custody after dangerous fleeing driver incident

Six youths have been taken into custody following a fleeing driver incident overnight in east and south Auckland, Counties Manukau Police say.

Just before 1.30am today, police say they spotted a stolen Nissan Terrano vehicle travelling on Plunket Avenue, Manukau.

Police camera operators were able to track the vehicle until it reached Golflands Drive, in Botany, and the Police Eagle helicopter took over observations.

Counties Manukau West Police area response manager, senior sergeant Steve Albrey, says the vehicle stopped momentarily on Golflands Drive and officers were quickly in the area signalling for the car to remain stopped.

“The vehicle has then fled, mounting the footpath to avoid being spiked and continued south on Te Irirangi Drive on the wrong side of the road and at speed.

“Despite not being pursued, the vehicle has entered State Highway 1 heading south and once it reached Drury it has driven the wrong way down the motorway for more than four kilometres.”

Albrey says police successfully laid spikes at Bombay. However, the vehicle continued on until eventually coming to a stop in Ohinewai where six people were taken into custody.

“It’s incredibly fortunate no one was seriously injured as a result of this incident.”

A 16-year-old is due to appear in Manukau Youth Court today, September 30, charged with unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle.

Five youths, aged between 13-16, have been referred to Youth Aid Services, police say.