A Balclutha officer began pursuing a speeding late-model Holden Commodore on the flood-free on State Highway 1 about 9.30am, said Senior Sergeant Kelvin Lloyd, of Dunedin.
The car was north-bound.
At Allanton, the driver made a U-turn and, heading south, overtook a truck before the driver lost control and crashed in a rest area.
The driver was not injured, but the car was extensively damaged.
When officers checked details of the man and the car, they found there was an active warrant for the man's arrest and the car was possibly stolen.
• A 35-year-old Tauranga man was dealt with by registrar's adjournment and remanded in custody by consent to April 20 when he appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday charged with dangerous driving and on an outstanding matter from Tauranga.
Further charges were likely, Snr Sgt Lloyd said.
