Officers praised for pulling occupants from burning car 

Tasman District's Police Commander has praised two of his Marlborough staff for their heroic actions in pulling two people from a burning vehicle last night.

Superintendent Richard Chambers said the officers had been involved in a brief pursuit with a fleeing vehicle when the vehicle crashed into a truck about 11pm yesterday.

The vehicle's engine caught alight on impact and the officers rushed to give assistance to the occupants.

Superintendent Chambers said one of the occupants was unconscious when the officers pulled him from the vehicle.

The crash happened on SH1 just north of Blenheim in a 50kmh zone.

Prior to the crash the officers had witnessed the vehicle in sustained loss of traction adjacent to SH1. They had indicated they wanted to speak with the driver when he fled reaching speeds well in excess of 100kmh and subsequently crashed.

Superintendent Chambers said the officers put their own safety at risk to save the lives of the vehicle occupants.

An investigation into the crash is under way.