Search for driver who dived into river to avoid arrest resumes

Cambridge Police, joined by Search And Rescue volunteers, are resuming the search for a man believed to be missing after he dived into the Waikato River to avoid arrest overnight.

Western Waikato Area Commander, Inspector Paul Carpenter, said officers were currently working on establishing who was behind the wheel of the Fiat Tipo hatchback at the centre of events.

"While this is going on a land search of the river bank is underway while we're awaiting the arrival of the Wellington based Police Dive Squad from Taupo.

"It's important to get the search underway but it's equally important for us to establish who in fact we're looking for in case the driver did manage to get out, we don't want to waste the time of the volunteers nor put divers' lives at risk by putting them in the river unnecessarily."

Mr Carpenter said events began about 11.23pm when a small black hatchback car failed to stop for a Police checkpoint in Cambridge.

A pursuit, managed by the Police Northern Communications Centre, then began, travelling through Leamington and on to Karapiro via Maungatautiri Rd.

"The car has then done a U-turn on Karapiro's Hydro Rd and then headed back towards Cambridge. Heading towards the Low Level Bridge the car has driven over road spikes and the driver has driven his car with deflated tyres into a rest area by the bridge at the southern end of the town.

"The driver was seen by our officers to dive over the bank, a drop of 5-10m, into the river but was not seen to surface causing concern that he may have come into difficulty."

A search of the river's banks was commenced aided by the arrival of a Police dog and was further expanded by the arrival of a Police rescue boat from Hamilton however no trace of the driver was found.

Enquiries at the address of the car's registered owner have also proved fruitless thus far.

"That's why its important to establish who had the car, find out if they are still missing and if so, make decisions about putting our people into the water to try and locate this person.

'We would ask anyone with information on the identity of the driver to come forward, either by contacting Cambridge Police or in necessary via the Crimestoppers confidential crimeline, 0800 555111," said Mr Carpenter.