State Highway 2 near Pokeno is closed in both directions after a crash that ended a fleeing driver chase

Police spotted the stolen car on Auckland's Dominion Road early this afternoon.

As they approached it, the driver sped away down the wrong side of the road.

Officers monitored the car travelling on the Southern Motorway, and it turned onto State Highway 2 where spikes were deployed in two locations.

The driver avoided the first spikes but while trying to avoid the second set crashed head-on into a civilian's car.

Both drivers were critically injured and are now in hospital.

State Highway 2 is closed between Avon and Koheroa Roads.