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Source: ONE News -
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A 22-year-old Wellington man is dead after a police pursuit of a
stolen motorbike in Palmerston North on Saturday night.
Martyn Dillon fled after police spotted him and a young woman on
the stolen motorbike.
The 45-second police pursuit turned into a death scene and Natalie Gilbert was one of the first on the scene.
"I heard a big crash outside the house so I came out and saw headlights through the fence and then walked out to the street and saw two bodies lying on the road and the motorbike," she says.
The high-powered motorbike, stolen only four days ago from Wellington, crashed into a fence, killing the driver and seriously injuring his 17-year old female passenger, who was not wearing a helmet.
Police attempted to stop the motorcyclist as he pulled away from traffic lights on Ruahine St at about 11.15pm.
They say the pursuit started just 500 metres from the crash site. Police had been looking for the bike after public complaints of reckless driving. But when an officer spotted it speeding and turned on his lights and sirens the bike sped off.
The motorcycle mounted the roundabout and collided with a road sign before crashing into the fence on the corner of John F Kennedy Drive and Milson Line.
Once the unnamed young woman recovers from hours of surgery in Palmerston North Hospital police plan to interview her and also the officer involved.
A police pursuit in Palmerston North less than 18 months ago also ended in a young man's death but area commander Pat Handcock is comfortable with his staff.
"Pursuits, police driving, it's always under scrutiny," he
says.
Now a specific example is under scrutiny with both police and the
Independent Police Conduct Authority investigating.
