Police officers battled to save the life of a motorcyclist who lay dying after a crash following a high speed chase in Wellington.
Leith David Barnes, a 28-year-old auto-electrician from Timaru, was killed when he lost control of his 900cc Honda street bike and crashed down a 10m-bank in suburban Newlands on Wednesday.
Police officers had minutes earlier abandoned a pursuit of Mr Barnes, who was seen travelling at speed of about 150kmh along State Highway 1 near Tawa about 4.30pm.
Shortly afterwards they discovered him seriously injured in Dennis Duggan Park.
Wellington police area commander Inspector Pete Cowan told The Dominion Post the officer who found Mr Barnes immediately began CPR and was helped by other officers who arrived at the scene. Paramedics then tried to resuscitate him for half-an-hour but were unsuccessful.
"The staff who were at the scene are very distraught but are being supported by their families and colleagues. All are now on special leave," Mr Cowan said.
Inquiries by the Independent Police Conduct Authority and police have begun into the incident
Mr Barnes' employer Stan Van Heeswyck, was astounded at his actions.
"It's out of character, it really, really is. He was a good kid, he was just finding himself. He's never done a thing wrong in his life, that's the bit I can't get over."
