Crash driver was disqualified

An Invercargill man who crashed a car during a police pursuit at Murchison last month, resulting in his passenger being killed, was a disqualified driver, Department of Courts records show.

Danny Ross Forbes, 25, was disqualified from driving for six months from late November, for driving while disqualified, the documents show.

Less than three months into his suspension, he was allegedly driving a Subaru WRX at high speeds when it slammed into a gum tree at Murchison while being pursued by the police.

His cousin, Ricky Alan Forbes, 35, who was a passenger, died at the scene.

Mr Forbes was initially treated at Nelson Hospital before being transferred to Southland Hospital, where a staffer yesterday said he was in a stable condition.

Detective senior sergeant Wayne McCoy, of Nelson, said investigations into the crash were continuing. Police intended to fly to Invercargill to interview Mr Forbes about the crash when he was well enough.

After the crash last month, Mr McCoy said the police had received two calls about the way the car was being driven in a carpark near Murchison.

When the police arrived to investigate and a siren was activated, the car "took off", he said.

"I wouldn't call it a pursuit, because the car disappeared. The car took off that fast no-one could catch it."

About 90 seconds later, police saw smoke and reached the crash scene before calling for medical assistance, Mr McCoy said.