Driver in fatal police pursuit 'motivated offender who did not want to be caught'

Friday, 24 January 2020

Police reveal a man killed in a police pursuit in January in Taupo was a motivated offender.

The driver whose failure to stop caused a fatal crash in the wake of a police pursuit in Taupō was 'a motivated offender who did not want to be caught', police say.

Speaking outside Rotorua Police station on Friday, Bay of Plenty District Commander Superintendent Andy McGregor also revealed the driver of the car, a 28-year-old male, was set to appear at Taupō District Court on Friday to face one charge of dangerous driving causing death.

He said that at this stage the relationship between the driver, and his passenger who died the in the crash, was unknown.

Police were at the scene of a fatal single-vehicle crash on Broadlands Rd, near Centennial Drive, when the car the dead man was a passenger in fled through the scene, starting the chase.

McGregor said that the 45-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene after their car, which he said was travelling at 'excessive speed' on a 50k stretch of road, crashed through a fence into a paddock.

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Cordons are in place at Broadbands Rd and Centennial Drive.

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Police earlier said they followed the vehicle for less than 30 seconds before it crashed.

McGregor said driver was not the subject to an arrest warrant at the time of the crash, but reiterated he was a 'motivated offender that didn't want to stop'.

'If he'd stopped [his passenger would] still be alive.'

Superintendent Andy McGregor said the driver 'didn't want to be caught'.

McGregor said the events unfolded after a police photographer, on his way to attend the scene of an earlier unrelated crash, witnessed a vehicle travelling at dangerous speed.

He said that officer radioed ahead to the crash site due to concerns for the safety of civilian staff present, and a second police car was alerted.

'As the vehicle approached the roadblock it turned right, the police lights were activated and it failed to stop.'

He also said police staff that witnessed the crash, one of whom he said he less than a years service, were 'visibly upset about this incident'.

'They did what they were expected to do… an expectation of the public is we stop these vehicles as they may kill innocent third parties.'

He also had a message for drivers considering fleeing police.

The fence where the first car crashed, leaving the driver dead.

'When you're signalled to stop by police, please pull over and do so,' he said.

'The consequences of something you fear will be a lot less than if you get into a high speed pursuit and crash. Think about your friends and family you may leave behind.'

McGregor also said he wished to pass on condolences to the family of both the deceased.

'It's not a very good day for them at all.'

The fatal crash police were attending at the time of the pursuit occurred at 11.40pm on Thursday.

Police said the vehicle in that crash left the road and rolled through a paddock before colliding with a tree. The driver of the car died at the scene.

McGregor said the decision whether or not to pursue a fleeing driver was one of the most serious decisions staff faced on the frontline.

Cordons are in place while the incident is investigated.

'This is an absolute tragedy and an outcome no one ever wants.

'We come to work every day to keep our community safe, and the staff involved have been deeply affected by this incident.'

The circumstances will be subject to investigation by both the Independent Police Conduct Authority and police investigators.