The teenager who was killed by uniformed police driving a patrol car, as he and a friend were walking along a rural Bay of Islands road last night, has been named.
He was Rawire Wilson, 16, of Kaeo.
The accident happened on State Highway 1 at Ohaeawai, 11km north east of Kaikohe, shortly after 11.30pm, Inspector Murray Hodson from Northland police said.
The officers were on routine patrol and were travelling from Kaikohe to Moerewa.
The crash site was an open rural road with no lighting in the area, Mr Hodson said.
Rawire Wilson died at the scene.
He was walking with another 16-year-old male who was moderately injured and flown to Whangarei Hospital.
Both teenagers were from Kaeo, 47km north west of Moerewa.
Three investigations – a Coronial, criminal and Independent Police Conduct Authority – have been launched in relation to the accident, Mr Hodson said.
Next-of-kin of the dead teenager had been notified and Victim Support was being provided to all families involved, he said.
Police were appealing for any witnesses who were in the area at the time of the crash to contact Detective Sergeant Sam Bindon of the Kaikohe Police.
