Search ongoing for second person who leapt into river to avoid police
Police in New Zealand are conducting an extensive search for a woman who jumped into a river while fleeing a traffic stop near Ōpōtiki. A 33-year-old man involved in the same incident has been arrested and is assisting authorities with the search.
Why it matters
The incident underscores the risks associated with high-speed police pursuits and the subsequent emergency response operations.
A man who <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/10/05/search-ongoing-for-pair-who-jumped-into-river-while-fleeing-police/">jumped into a river while fleeing police</a> near Ōpōtiki early on Sunday morning is due to appear in court today, as police continue to search for a woman who also entered the water. Police today said they were continuing to seek information that may help confirm the safety and whereabouts of a woman who had not yet been located. It comes after a driver ran a red light in the Wainui area at around 3.45am on Sunday and failed to stop when signalled to by police. The vehicle came to a stop after road spikes were deployed about 10km from Ōpōtiki shortly after 4am. The car came to a stop down Snell Rd by the Ōtara River mouth and Waioeka River mouth connection where a man and woman jumped into the water.
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