Young teens in custody after high-speed Auckland chase

A witness says the pursued car contained several children. Photo: NZ Herald
A witness says the pursued car contained several children. Photo: NZ Herald
Seven children aged 13 and 14 are in custody after a high-speed police chase through parts of Auckland overnight.

Police have confirmed that youngsters were taken into custody after the stolen car they were in was first spotted in Swanson, West Auckland.

The 14-year-old driver has been charged with unlawfully taking a motor vehicle and reckless driving.

Two passengers - both aged 14 - have been charged with unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle and are due to appear in the Waitakere Youth Court. The other passengers are being referred to Youth Aid.

A witness has described seeing a group of children being chased by police in a high-speed pursuit through West Auckland overnight.

The vehicle involved was seen driving down the wrong side of the Northwestern Motorway, near Te Atatū, before being eventually stopped on a road in Te Atatū South shortly after 1.30am.

The car had extensive tyre damage and was being driven on its rims.

Police confirmed their Eagle helicopter spotted a stolen Subaru Legacy travelling at "high speed" along Swanson Rd before it headed towards State Highway 16, city-bound.

The vehicle was spiked as it got off on the motorway on the Nelson St off-ramp.

"The vehicle continued through the CBD area and travelled back on to SH16 west-bound, exiting the motorway at Te Atatū Rd towards Henderson."

It is understood the vehicle, which had been spiked in an attempt to stop it, had also driven through other parts of Auckland - including Henderson, Pt Chevalier, Western Springs and Grey Lynn.

The witness said several police vehicles were chasing the car involved and a Police Eagle helicopter was also hovering overhead at the time.

He then spotted at least six young people being detained by police on a street in Te Atatū.

He said a number of them were handcuffed and made to sit on the kerb. He guessed there were between six to nine young people involved.

At one point, a police officer was heard telling one of the group to stop spitting, the witness said.

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