Video shot moments after a destructive crash following a police chase in Napier shows one of the occupants of the car watching their friend lying on the ground, badly hurt.
The crash happened on Kennedy Road about 1.15am yesterday after the driver failed to stop for police and led them on a chase around the city.
Three people were taken to hospital after the crash, which happened after an hour-long chase.
Police have confirmed a spike strip was laid out to stop the car, but after the driver took swerved to avoid it, he mounted the footpath and smashed into fences and gardens.
Two males in their early 20s were taken to hospital seriously hurt, and a female from the car was also taken, but was discharged yesterday.
In video taken by a bystander right after the crash, police can be heard asking for a hose or fire extinguisher to use on the crumpled Subaru Legacy, as a fire engine had not arrived yet.
One person can be seen and heard moaning in pain as police pull him from the car, while another apparently-handcuffed person was filmed standing near a police officer, able to see their associate on the ground.
Police have not confirmed which of the three people were behind the wheel and said their investigation into the incident is in its early stages.
Witnesses at the scene told 1 NEWS they heard police accusing the occupants of stealing the car, but police today said no charges have yet been laid.
Resident Lee Oosthuizen yesterday told 1 NEWS she and husband Toby were asleep when they were woken by a very loud noise and shards of glass being thrown across their bed.
Senior Sargeant Dan Foley pleaded with drivers to do the right thing and stop when asked.
"It is not worth putting your life, your passenger’s life, or anyone else’s life at risk," he said.
"Decisions you make as a driver impact not only you and those in your vehicle, but everyone else on the road as well."
POLICE PURSUITS IN THE SPOTLIGHT
The number of police pursuits in New Zealand increasing - it has gone from less than 2500 in 2012 to 3797 last year.
There were calls in March this year for police to ban pursuits after three people died during a chase in Nelson - including an innocent bystander.
Another chase today in Tauranga follows the deaths of three people near Nelson yesterday.
Police Assistant Commissioner for Road Policing Sandra Venebles told Stuff that the responsibility only rests on those who choose to flee.
"We [police] have to strike a balance between the responsibility to protect life and the duty to enforce the law, but it's really up to the driver in these pursuits," she said.
In 2009, the Independent Police Conduct Authority made recommendations to Police around their pursuits policy, which led to a 2010 road policing review on the topic .
In the review, Police said the decision whether or not to abandon a pursuit rests with a shift commander on duty at the station, which takes the adrenalin and emotion of the pursuing officer out of the picture.
According to the review, the shift commander has "a responsibility to abandon a pursuit once the risk is identified as being disproportionate to the reason for initiating the pursuit".
The review also found "there is insufficient evidence to support the banning of pursuits".
"It is not likely to improve or guarantee public safety, and it is questionable whether the community would support a policy that allows offenders to flee Police with little or no consequences," the review reads.
"Banning pursuits has the potential to create a level of lawlessness within the community.
"If criminals know that Police will not pursue them, or have so many restrictions placed on them it renders pursuits futile, then the job of Police to uphold the law not only becomes difficult, but almost impossible."
Police Minister Stuart Nash is currently working with the IPCA "to review their policies and practices around these unpredictable events", he said in March.
A report is expected before the end of the year.
LOCALS WEIGH IN ON POLICE'S ACTIONS
Meanwhile, the crash has been a hot talking point in the Napier News Facebook group, with many sharing their views on the chase and crash.
Many comments supported the way the chase was handled by police.
"Don't blame police for doing their job, blame the ones doing the crime they think they can get away with what they do," Lois Gill wrote.
"The cops are just trying to do their job they are paid to do and these idiot's are just piss taking," wrote Ross Lawrence - "the cops should be allowed to use reasonable force to stop a vehicle by any means that won't stop for them."
Other commenters thought getting money from the offenders to pay for the damage would be difficult.
"We had both our vehicles stolen when we lived in Waipukurau and the idiots did over $4500 worth of damage, they have had to pay reparation but we are still getting it in drips and drabs going on three years later," Sherryn Eagle wrote.
"It's absolute s**t that the owner ends up having paying the excess of the damage to their home caused by these twits ... happened to my parents also," Tracy Baxter said.
NOTABLE CHASES IN NAPIER THIS YEAR
April 16 - Police successfully used a spike strip to stop a fleeing driver in a stolen car after a chase through Pandora, Marewa and Westshore - the offender was arrested.
May 25 - Police abandon the pursuit of a Holden Commodore for "safety reasons" after it narrowly avoided hitting a bus on State Highway 2 near Awatoto.
June 27 - A 17-year-old was arrested after fleeing police, who initially called off the chase due to high speed but later located the car again. The offender rammed a police car near Paki Paki.
August 27 - A chase around Napier ended in a crash after the driver swerved to avoid a spike strip on Kennedy Road - civilian properties were damaged.
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