Three teenagers have been charged after a police chase in south Auckland this morning ended with a stolen car crashing into a car in rush-hour traffic.
Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
Police said they tried to stop the vehicle at about 8am this morning, believing it may have been linked to a series of burglaries overnight.
When it failed to stop, officers followed it until it crashed into a stationary car in rush-hour traffic at the intersection of Redoubt Road and Goodwood Drive in Manukau, police said.
A 12-year-old is in a serious condition in hospital which police said was "not as a result of the crash".
A 16-year-old girl was charged with unlawfully taking a vehicle, aggravated failing to stop and reckless driving.
Two 17-year-old girls were also charged with unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle, while a 12-year-old boy and 13-year-old girl have been referred to Youth Aid.
Police chases can be volatile, unpredictable and high risk to everyone involved, police said.
"We urge anyone who feels pressured to get into a vehicle that has the potential to end up in a fleeing vehicle incident - not to do it. Peer pressure is very real in these circumstances and for every car that has multiple occupants - there is only one driver.
"Everyone's lives in that car are at the mercy of that driver. You or your friends could end up badly injured or even worse and a brave decision could end up saving lives and prevent devastating effects for your loved ones," Senior Sergeant Peter Marriott said.
