Gang rules may be behind fatal police chase

Gang rules may be behind fatal police chase

3 News has learned that gang rules may have been behind a fatal crash in south Auckland yesterday.

A relative of a 15-year-old girl critically injured in the crash told 3 News that under the rules of the gang, stolen cars are taken on dangerous joy rides to lure police into chasing them.

They call themselves PBG – that's "Pretty But Gangsta".

"This scenario of young people not considering the consequences of their actions has to stop," says Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Glossop.

Police say gangs like the PBGs are baiting them with dangerous behaviour on the roads.

"The biggest concern is that there will be another death. It's Russian roulette. It really is."

Sixteen-year-old Eden Nathan died and her friend, Kara Kauri, remains in a coma after police pursued their stolen car through the streets of Mangere yesterday morning. They hit another vehicle before crashing.

A relative of the 15-year-old driver told 3 News if girls want to maintain their spot in the PBGs they have to take part in night racing. Often the cars are stolen and during the joy ride they record the action on their phones.

"Wake up children," says local kaumatua Brownie Rauwhero. "Wake up mokopuna. We need to stop these kind of things and help in the community."

Police say fleeing teen drivers are taking bigger and bigger risks.

"I think it's the tactics that they're taking. The risks they're willing to take is what's becoming more dangerous."

And those behind the wheel are getting younger.

"Now we've got younger kids, 12-year-olds, doing breakneck speeds down the wrong way of the motorway. Something's got to change."

Police want less unnecessary deaths on the roads, deaths like that of Eden, whose friends today described her as a bubbly, happy young girl who had started to take the wrong track in life.

3 News