Waikato Police are praising the actions of a Hauraki farmer who stopped two people from fleeing the scene of a crash overnight.

District Road Policing Manager Inspector Freda Grace says the 20-year-old driver of the Nissan Primera had earlier fled police after being clocked travelling at 126km/h on State Highway 25 at Waitakaruru.

“Instead of stopping as required, the driver has instead fled from police at speed and a pursuit under the supervision of the Northern Communications Centre has been initiated,” says Freda.

“Given the speed and nature of the fleeing motorist’s driving, the pursuit was abandoned, however, officers conducting a search for the Nissan came across it somewhat worse for wear a short time later.”

Police inquiries suggests that after officers lost sight of the fleeing car it was involved in a collision with another vehicle while the offenders were overtaking.

The offending driver lost control of the Nissan and crashed into trees and a sheet metal fence, causing extensive damage to the car.

“The 20-year-old male driver and his 18-year-old female passenger then attempted to flee the scene on foot. As it turns out the owner of the property where the car crashed heard the commotion and saw the couple fleeing and apprehended them until police arrived.”

Freda says this intervention allowed for the offenders to be held to account and the driver was arrested for reckless driving and failing to stop.

The pair were taken to Thames Hospital for assessment and will appear in the Hamilton District Court later today (Monday).

“Though it may not seem like it at present, the pair are very lucky not to have been seriously injured as were the innocent people in the car they clipped just before the crash.

“Those people and the farmer now have to deal with insurance companies in relation to the damaged caused through no fault of their own,” says Freda.

The female passenger was also arrested in connection with an unrelated shoplifting matter in the Manawatu.