A young woman has died after her car crashed into a stream in the Bay of Plenty.

Rotorua Area Commander Inspector Bruce Horne says the crash happened about midnight last night.

Bruce says shortly before the crash police had seen the vehicle being driven through an intersection erratically and at speed.

A police patrol attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver continued at speed along Tarewa Road.

'About 1 km from where the police first tried to stop the vehicle, the driver of the car has failed to negotiate a moderate bend.

'The vehicle has become airborne, travelled over the bank of a stream and then collided with the berm on the far side of the stream.”

Bruce says the driver was pronounced dead at the scene and three passengers in the vehicle were treated for minor injuries.

'This is a tragedy for the families involved and our thoughts are with them at this time. Serious crashes are also heart-breaking for police staff and those from other emergency services.

'This incident highlights the risk of driving at speed and the tragic consequences that can result when a driver refuses to stop and instead chooses to evade the police.

Bruce says the matter has been referred to the IPCA and police will also conducting their own investigation, both of which are standard procedure, says Bruce.