Fleeing driver in critical condition following Police pursuit overnight

A fleeing driver who led Police on a pursuit in Lower Hutt late last night is in a critical condition in Wellington Hospital.

Wellington Police District Road Policing Manager Inspector Peter Baird says Highway Patrol staff were alerted to a vehicle driving carelessly and at speed on the Eastern Hutt Road at about 10:45pm last night.

"The fleeing driver failed to stop for Police and a pursuit ensued along Eastern Hutt Road, which lasted about a minute. Speeds of up to 150 kilometres an hour were reached over a two kilometre stretch of road. The speed limit for the area was 70 and 80 km/hr. No other vehicles were involved in the pursuit."

He says the pursuit ended when the fleeing driver's vehicle slid and crashed into a power pole.