A stolen car sped the wrong way down two stretches of motorway in Auckland before crashing head-on into another car.
It was one of four cars which police suspected were stolen and were found being driven in the early hours of this morning in Otahuhu.
Northern area police shift commander Inspector Kerry Watson said police abandoned their pursuit of a Subaru because of the dangerous driving.
He said police watched in horror on CCTV cameras as the car wove in and out of lanes on the southern motorway.
"It's just horrendously dangerous."
Mr Watson said the driver left the motorway at Te Irirangi Drive and returned to State Highway One on the wrong side of the road.
After the crash, the driver fled on foot but was caught by police using CCTV footage.
The woman driver of the car that was crashed into escaped with minor injuries and shock.
A 16-year-old boy is due in court later day charged with unlawfully taking a vehicle and reckless driving.
