Boy racers challenging each other to ‘pig chases’
Boy racers are challenging each other to get involved in high speed pursuits with the police.
A 25-year-old has admitted that a pursuit – referred to as a “pig chase” when he spoke to the police – was a “challenge” between him and his friends.
The driver got to speeds of 100km an hour within Christchurch and 130km an hour as he led police on a 45min pursuit that was brought to a stop with road spikes at Rakaia.
“His driving posed a significant risk to the public safety,” said police prosecutor David Rusbatch when Matenga Victor Rae Rae-Woon was remanded on bail for sentence in the Christchurch District Court.
Rae Rae-Woon had admited charges of aggravated disqualified driving – he has at least two previous convictions – dangerous driving, and failing to stop for the police.
Judge David Saunders told him: “You will know from your record and what you have read about the facts that your liberty really is in jeopardy.”
He remanded Rae Rae-Woon on bail for sentencing on November 6, and ordered a pre-sentence report that will assess his suitability for home and community detention.
While on bail he is not to associate with an alleged co-offender, and not to drive. The judge told him the home detention assessment was not an indication of the likely outcome.
When he was stopped at the end of the chase on August 27, Rae Rae-Woon admitted the facts and told police he had never been in a “pig chase” before and it was one of his challenges with friends.
Mr Rusbatch said Rae Rae-Woon pulled over and then sped away when a patrol car signalled him to stop on Lincoln Road, Hoon Hay.
The pursuit then took him and the police through Hillmorton, Addington, Riccarton, Sockburn, Wigram, Halswell and out into rural Canterbury through Prebbleton, Lincoln, and Leeston.
Traffic in the city was moderate. Rae Rae-Woon reached speeds of 100km an hour in the suburbs. He drove around the Matipo-Wrights Road round-about one and a half times, and drove through two service station forecourts. He came to a stop to let a passenger out.
Repeated efforts to slow him with a rolling block were defeated by his evasive manoeuvres. In Leeston, he got away by pulling across into the path of an oncoming vehicle that had turned from a side street.
He swerved left and right across the lanes on the way to Rakaia to prevent any more rolling blocks.
Road spikes were used near the intersection of Main South Road and the Main Rakaia Road where Rae Rae-Woon was stopped and caught.
Category: Focus
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