Pubdate: Wed, 22 Mar 2006
Source: Northern Advocate (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2006 Northern Advocate
Contact: http://www.northernadvocate.co.nz/info/letters/
Website: http://www.northernadvocate.co.nz
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2929
Author: Natasha Harris
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

FLEEING CAR EXPLODES - DRIVER SETS FIRE TO DRUG EQUIPMENT

A Whangarei man had a harsh lesson in the danger of drugs when his 
car exploded during a police chase.

He was apparently trying to set fire to cannabis and drug-making 
equipment in his vehicle yesterday when disaster struck.

The chase on mainly unsealed roads north-west of Whangarei could have 
been a scene from a Hollywood movie involving a helicopter, drugs, a 
fiery explosion, and a police dog keen for action.

Today forensic scientists were expected to examine the man's car and 
home, where it was believed the man had been making the drug P, or 
pure methamphetamine.

The drama began when police arrived at a Matarau Rd home, 15km 
north-west of Whangarei, to search for cannabis yesterday morning.

Hikurangi police Senior Constable Russell Rawiri said a man fled in a 
car and led police on a medium-speed 20km chase around the countryside.

A police helicopter followed the vehicle, the pilot watching as the 
man allegedly set fire to drugs and drug-making equipment around him 
in the car - while he was still being chased by police.

The pilot then saw how the man's apparent attempt to destroy the 
evidence went horribly wrong.

As the driver stopped around 10am on Riponui Rd and prepared to flee 
on foot, the car went up in a chemical-fuelled fireball.

"The car ignited when he was getting out and he ran off down the 
paddock. A dog unit was close behind and caught him," Mr Rawiri said.

A container of isopropyl alcohol, a common solvent also used to 
extract cannabis oil, was thought to have caused the explosion. The 
man, believed to be in his late 30s, sustained burns to his legs and 
was taken to Whangarei Hospital in a serious condition.

"He was very lucky to escape death," Mr Rawiri said.

Police said cannabis, glass containers and a large metal pot were 
found in the car.

A fire sparked by the blast spread through the grass and up a tree. 
Blackened branches eight metres above the ground showed the scale of 
the explosion.

Whangarei Fire Brigade chief fire officer Allan Kerrisk said 
firefighters approached the blaze with caution because there were 
still highly explosive chemicals in the car.

Firefighters took 10 minutes to put out the blaze. They also helped 
the injured man who was lying in a paddock about 50m away.

"We were keeping him cool with water and saline solution and covering 
his burns with a towel," Mr Kerrisk said.

The man was seen being taken by stretcher to an ambulance around 
11am. He was wrapped in a heat blanket and was shaking violently.

Whangarei police organised crime unit boss Detective Sergeant Grant 
Smith said police found cannabis plants at the man's house, and it 
appeared P was also involved.

"In an outbuilding the man was sleeping in, we found drug 
paraphernalia and traces of some chemicals consistent with 
methamphetamine manufacture," Mr Smith said.

Another person at the house was helping police with their inquiries.

Roading contractor Rex Nelson was working a few hundred metres away 
when he "saw the helicopter, the police and a cloud of smoke".

Mr Nelson ran up the hill to see what the commotion was about.

"A man was lying on the ground and he was badly burned. We gave the 
police some water to give him ... It was action for a rural area," he said.

Yesterday's drugs search was part of a Whangarei-wide crackdown. 
Police urge anyone who knows of drug activity to call 0800 BAN DRUGS 
(226-37847).
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom