File photo. Photo: RNZ / Patrice Allen
Two people are still in hospital after their car was hit head-on by three teenagers in a stolen ute, driving in the wrong lane, in Ōtaki, north of Wellington.
One person is in a stable condition on a ward, and one in a serious condition in the intensive care unit, according to Te Whatu Ora.
The driver, named by police as 16-year-old Reihana Horohau Hawea of Levin, died at the scene, and a passenger in the stolen ute died of their injuries in hospital.
Acting Area Commander Inspector Clifford Brown said the incident remained under investigation.
No charges have yet been laid.
Just after 10.30pm on Friday, 26 April, a stolen ute wanted in connection to a robbery in Ōtaki earlier in the evening failed to stop when signalled by police just south of Levin.
Police pursued, but abandoned the chase within several minutes "due to the manner of driving", police said, and the ute continued at speed heading south on State Highway 1.
About 10.50pm, the vehicle turned back onto State Highway 1 from Waikanae, heading north in the southbound lane.
It collided head-on with another vehicle just south of Lawlors Road about 11.05pm.
The driver of the ute was pronounced dead at the scene, and the two passengers were seriously injured.
There were four people in the other vehicle, who were moderately and seriously injured. Two are still in hospital.