A man has been arrested after allegedly stealing a vehicle and driving at more than twice the speed limit while intoxicated across Auckland’s North Shore.
According to a report by Stuff, police were alerted late on Wednesday night that a car had been taken from Channel View Rd in Takapuna. The vehicle was later spotted travelling north along Wairau Rd about 1 am on Thursday.
CJ Miles, Waitematā East Area response manager, said the vehicle was seen on the Albany Expressway being driven erratically and at excessive speed. The distance between Takapuna and Albany is more than 12km, Stuff has reported.
Police tracked the car with the New Zealand Police Eagle helicopter, which observed the driver travelling dangerously and crossing onto the wrong side of the road, Miles said.
The pursuit came to an end when the driver entered a dead-end street on St Andrews Way, where he allegedly tried to take a second vehicle. Officers arrived shortly afterwards and arrested the man without further incident, as reported by Stuff.
Police said the driver allegedly returned a breath alcohol reading above the legal limit.
Miles said it was extremely fortunate that no one was hurt during the incident, describing the driver’s actions as showing "little regard for anyone else".
A 25-year-old man is scheduled to appear in the North Shore District Court on Thursday, charged with unlawfully taking a motor vehicle and driving with excess breath alcohol, according to Stuff.