One dead in Christchurch crash

A night of boyracer mayhem in Christchurch has left one dead, five injured and 30 arrested by police.

A 26-year-old man is dead. He was the front seat passenger in a black Mitsubishi Lancer which crashed at speed into a concrete power pole in central Christchurch after speeding off from police during a routine stop.

Six young people aged 18 to 26 were in the car when it crashed at the intersection of Manchester St and Moorhouse Avenue about 1.40am today.

Two other occupants of the car are in a critical condition and another in a serious condition at Christchurch Hospital. The other two passengers suffered only minor injuries - one tried to run from the crash scene but was stopped by a passer-by.

Just minutes before the fatal crash police had been called to Belfast, on the northern outskirts of Christchurch, to deal with an unruly crowd of about 140 boyracers who had gathered with their vehicles and were blocking the Chaneys motorway on-ramp.

Police made 30 arrests as they attempted to disperse the crowd. The 30 have been charged with unlawful assembly and, if convicted, could face up to a year in prison.

Canterbury road policing manager Inspector Al Stewart said arresting anyone was always a last resort for police and the boyracers had been given every chance to moderate their behaviour over the past few months through other enforcement methods, such as fines and vehicles seizures. 

"Unfortunately they haven't got the message and the danger they present to other motorists required police to take more serious action. The local community have been quite clear that they have had enough of this sort of behaviour.

"Police will take a firm approach to offending and maintain the high quality of life that Christchurch residents enjoy. Anti-social behaviour associated with careless and dangerous driving will not be tolerated," Stewart said.

Three weeks ago, a 22-year-old man was killed in Christchurch when his car hit a tree as he was trying to get away from police.

- © Fairfax NZ News