Two men have been killed following a high-speed police chase in the Bay of Plenty, this morning, bringing the number of people killed while fleeing police this year to 17.
Authorities are beginning their latest investigation after the pair's 4WD rolled down a bank and hit a tree in Te Puke, about 20km from Tauranga, about 5.30am.
Western Bay of Plenty Police confirmed the two men died after they fled from police in nearby Mt Maunganui.
The vehicle initially failed to stop for police on Maunganui Rd after it was seen speeding in a 50kmh residential area about 5.15am, said area commander, Inspector Mike Clement.
Police chased the vehicle towards Papamoa and it took "extreme actions" to evade police, including driving around a set of road spikes, he said.
The vehicle was travelling at such high speed that the pursuit was abandoned until it was then seen travelling in Domain Road, Papamoa, where it again did not stop for police, who resumed the chase.
"The pursuit was then in the process of being abandoned for the second time due to concerns about speed in the Te Puke township, when police officers lost sight of the fleeing vehicle. A search of the area revealed it had left the road and hit a tree," Mr Clement said.
The passenger was dead when police arrived and the driver died later while still at the scene.
Mr Clement said crash investigators were now investigating the crash and the Independent Police Conduct Authority had been notified.
A formal internal police investigation had also commenced.
He said police were in a difficult position when it came to a fleeing offender or a driver who failed to stop.
"The immediate question for police and the public alike is why that individual feels the need to take such extreme action to avoid speaking to police.
"Those who flee from police put themselves and innocent road users at risk, with the ultimate tragic outcome in this case."
The deaths would not only have a dreadful impact on their families and friends, but also on the police officers involved and other emergency services who attended the scene, and those in the wider community, he said.
Police are making inquiries to identify the two men so that next of kin can be notified.
The Te Puke crash is the latest in a series of double-fatalities following police chases.
Last month two people were killed in the Auckland suburb of Onehunga after fleeing police following reports of a red laser beam being shone at cars on the Mangere Bridge motorway. The driver ran from the scene but later gave himself up to police.
In August two people were killed when Phillip Bannan, 22, fled from a police traffic stop in Christchurch.
