Driver flees after police chase

ROSS GIBLIN/The Dominion Post

SUDDEN STOP: Police at the scene this morning

Relevant offers

Wellington police are hunting the driver of a stolen car after he abandoned his vehicle and fled, after a short pursuit near Newlands.

The 20-second chase happened between Ngauranga Gorge and the Newlands off-ramp after police tried to stop the stolen car at about 12pm.

Sergeant Vaughan Mead said the car hit a street light pole on the off-ramp, which fell across the road, preventing police from continuing the chase. However, the car stopped about 100 metres up the road.

The driver ran away but three other people in the car stayed at the scene. They were arrested and charged with unlawfully getting into a stolen vehicle.

''We have the driver's name and our enquiries are continuing,'' Mr Mead said.

The car was stolen from Lower Hutt about four days ago, he said.

The street pole had been removed from the road.

- © Fairfax NZ News