Three separate investigations are underway into a police pursuit in Hamilton after a fleeing 17-year-old driver crashed into a wall and died.
A 14-year-old boy who was a passenger in the car is in Waikato Hospital in a critical condition with leg injuries.
Police say the stolen car was travelling along Rotokauri Road just before 2am on Wednesday without headlights on, when officers tried to pull it over.
They say the driver initially slowed down but then accelerated away at a high speed, prompting officers to pursue.
Inspector Marcus Lynam says the chase was abandoned after about 1km on Baverstock Rd. Shortly afterwards the car crashed at a road sign before hitting the stone retaining wall.
The driver was thrown from the car and died at the scene.
A teenage girl who was wearing a seat belt in the back of the car was not hurt.
The crash is being investigated by the serious crash unit, the Independent Police Conduct Authority and the Coroner.
