A 20-year-old man is in a serious condition in hospital after the vehicle he was driving slammed into a truck during a police pursuit in Palmerston North last night.
Police began the chase after they noticed the vehicle driving too fast in a 50kmh zone on Tremaine Ave about 1am, Senior Sergeant Brett Amas of Palmerston North police said.
The pursuit ended less than a minute later when the vehicle crashed into the side of a semi truck and trailer unit which was turning into a fuel stop.
The unlicensed driver suffered multiple injuries and was taken to Palmerston North hospital in a serious condition.
Police are investigating and the crash will be reported to the Independent Police Conduct Authority.
The crash comes a day after police abandoned a pursuit because the vehicle they were chasing endangered a group of schoolchildren in Hamilton.
Constable Mark Strongman said the red Subaru WRX was driving at speed on Tomin Rd when the driver mounted the footpath near the children heading to school.
"Given the risks involved, the pursuit was abandoned immediately," he said.
"Not only was this person posing an extreme risk to other road users but put innocent children in peril as well."
Police have asked the owner or driver of the car, registration number UB4321, to hand themselves in.
