Police have arrested a man who fled after the stolen car he was driving crashed in Christchurch killing a 15-year-old boy.
Christchurch City Commander Andy McGregor said a police dog handler went to stop the vehicle on Tuesday night, but it sped off through New Brighton and Linwood.
The officer began a pursuit and Superintendent McGregor said despite the officer's attempts to get the car to stop, it carried on at speeds of up to 90km/h through a 50km/h area and on the wrong side of the road.
He said the officer abandoned the pursuit after several minutes and the vehicle later crashed into a power pole after failing to take a series of bends in Linwood.
The 15-year-old boy died shortly afterwards.
Mr McGregor said the two other passengers of the car helped find the 25-year-old driver.
He said the passengers would face charges relating to stealing a vehicle, while the driver would face serious charges relating to the boy's death.
Mr McGregor said the death is tragic and none of this would have happened if the car had just stopped.
