High-speed Drivers heading to Raglan put other lives at risk – Police

With the Queens Birthday holiday period rapidly approaching Waikato Police have already had their fill of high speed motorists putting the lives of other road users at risk.

Waikato District Road Policing Manager, Inspector Leo Tooman, said three people in a car had a narrow escape in a car trying to evade Police on SH1 overnight.

“A driver was recorded driving at 115km/h at Karapiro and a Highway Patrol Officer went to pull it over however the driver accelerated away and a pursuit began.

“A short distance down the road the driver lost control of his car and it glanced a truck heading the opposite way, forcing the truck off the road and into a power-pole with a transformer box on it.”

Mr Tooman said it was fortunate neither the truck driver nor the occupants of the car were injured, something that was more good luck than good management.

“The learner driver already had a warrant out for his arrest and he was taken back to the Hamilton Central Police Station.”

Several hours later it was motorists in Hamilton who had their lives put at risk when the driver of a stolen blue Ford Falcon car was seen driving in the City.

Accelerating to avoid arrest the driver headed towards Raglan at speeds that at times exceeded 140km/h.

“Pursuits are managed by the Northern Communications Centre and when pursuing cars became held up by other motorists not moving over the stolen car was lost from sight and the pursuit abandoned on safety grounds,” said Mr Tooman.

While this was going on a black Holden Commodore was recorded driving past a speed camera car at 140km/h on the Paeroa- Tahuna Rd.

Responding Police located the black Holden Commodore and the 40-year-old female driver now faces driving charges.

Mr Tooman said with four people being killed in the Waikato in a single crash involving two cars on SH30 near Benneydale last Queen’s Birthday weekend Police were keen to ensure there was no repeat of the carnage this year.

“Speed is one of the three main contributors in fatal and serious injury crashes in the Waikato and research shows us 36 per cent of people travelling Waikato highways exceed the speed limit.

“Speed is killing us and we have to address that, to that end anyone found driving 4km/h over the posted speed limit can expect enforcement action this holiday weekend.”

Media Release: NZ Police, 4.06.10