Two teenage drivers suspected of drinking before driving caused problems for Oamaru police at the weekend, both crashing vehicles before being apprehended.
At 1.30am on Saturday, police tried to stop a car on State Highway 1 north of Oamaru.
The car turned on to SH83 at Pukeuri with police in pursuit at speeds up to 150kmh, Sgt Blair Wilkinson said yesterday.
Because of the high speeds, the pursuit was called off but a patrol car was able to lay road spikes up SH83.
The car crashed after hitting the spikes put out by police. The 18-year-old Kurow male driver was taken to Oamaru Hospital with head injuries.
Because police suspected alcohol was a factor, blood was taken at the hospital to be sent away for analysis, he said.
The driver has been charged with dangerous driving and failing to stop for police.
At 4pm on Saturday, a 16-year-old youth took a car from Frome St, then crashed it into a parked car on Frome St. The driver then drove off before police arrived, returning the car to Frome St.
Police later located the driver and he has been charged with driving with an excess breath-alcohol level of 468mcg, unlawfully taking a motor vehicle and reckless driving.
On Friday, about 10.30pm, an 18-year-old male driver was stopped and charged with drink-driving with a level of 468mcg.
