Senior Constable Bruce Dow said the alleged incident took place at 12.45am on Sunday on the forecourt of the Z service station on Severn St, when a 31-year-old male from Waimate rammed his vehicle into the side of another vehicle.
Snr Const Dow said the impact forced the second vehicle into a set of petrol pumps, slightly damaging all three pumps, before the offender performed a ''massive burnout'' and sped off from the service station, which is located next door to the Oamaru police station.
''The offending vehicle was shortly after located on Thames Highway and the driver attempted to flee from a police patrol, that is until his Holden Commodore engine blew up a few kilometres north of Pukeuri.''
The man was arrested and charged with criminal damage, unnecessary acceleration of speed, reckless driving and failing to stop. Z senior communications adviser Sheena Thomas said although it was ''unlikely'' the incident could have resulted in any serious harm.
''We have a number of safety features on our pumps, including things like emergency stops and in the unlikely event that a pump was run over completely we have got suction systems in place as well, so in terms of this actually turning into a situation that could have caused real harm it's unlikely.
''That said, it is a hazardous environment. If certain circumstances lined up something could happen, which is why we always tell people to be incredibly careful. In fact, this was an incredibly stupid thing to do.''
Staff in Oamaru had acted properly.
They hit the emergency stop and turned off and isolated the pumps and immediately called police, she said.
There was no major damage and pumps were operating soon afterwards.
