Were the Police in Pursuit?

Mark McElrea wants to know if a police car was pursuing the vehicle before an accident that killed his son after claims by two passengers and an independent witness.

"My understanding is that at the time of the crash there was no police pursuit in progress and in fact there had not been an actual pursuit taking place," said Police spokesman Kevin Loughlin.

Backseat passenger Kayla Hewison said "the cop pulled out of a street and started following us".
"Then the cops caught up to us, we had stopped at the intersection [of Pine Valley Rd and Kahikatea Flat Rd] then the cops were right up our butts. We went left, boosted it, cops were up our butts again. We felt a bang, we all went forward a bit then I remember sliding and then I remember starting to flip."

Ms Hewitson, who was thrown through the back window but escaped with rib injuries and scratches, said she had also given a statement to police in which she alleged the police car was following close to the Subaru "and gave us a bump".
She said the car had lights and sirens going at the time.
Ms Hewitson said police told her "that's your side of the story".

Mr McElrea said a Dairy Flat resident travelling on Kahikatea Flat Rd told him the Subaru overtook him and his partner on a dangerous corner. He was overtaken about 50m further along the road by a police car with lights flashing.

Mr McElrea said police started "closing shop" when asked about allegations of a pursuit.

Policewatch says is it then normal practice for police to be driving along with lights flashing if not in pursuit or en route to an emergency, suggest a look at the bumper of the Police car.