Five youths crash into police car, injuring two officers in Auckland pursuit
Five youths have been arrested after they crashed a stolen car into a marked police car overnight, injuring two officers inside.
Police took the group into custody in a driveway on Hillside Rd in Wairau Valley on Auckland’s North Shore following a pursuit across the city.
Inspector Juliet Burgess said the arrested teens are aged between 13 and 17.
The stolen car collided head-on with a marked highway patrol unit, with airbags deploying in both vehicles in a private driveway.
Burgess said they first attempted to stop the car at 10.10pm as it entered the Southern Motorway (SH1) at Papakura.
“Police signalled for the driver to stop but they did not and took off at speed along the motorway heading north.
“A pursuit was not initiated due to the manner of driving, and the police Eagle helicopter was deployed and tracked the vehicle, providing commentary to ground units.”
She said police surrounded the vehicle after it exited at Wairau Valley, which is when it rammed the front of a police car.
“Two police officers in the rammed vehicle suffered minor injuries and were transported to Auckland Hospital for checks.”
A 17-year-old will appear in court today faced with multiple charges including motor vehicle theft, failing to stop, possessing offensive weapons, driving without a proper licence and driving recklessly causing injury.
A 15-year-old is also due to appear on motor vehicle and offensive weapons charges.
A Herald photographer at the scene said one teen appeared to be wearing an ankle bracelet wrapped in tin foil.
Both vehicles sustained front-end damage from the head-on collision. Recovery trucks have since removed both vehicles from the scene.
The Herald has requested further comment from police including the nature of the officer’s injuries.