A fiery crash after a police chase in Whanganui has resulted in the death of a driver.

A fleeing driver has died after his car burst into flames following a collision with a stationary truck as he dodged police spikes in Whanganui.

Central District police Inspector Mark Harrison said police tried to stop a vehicle on Great North Road at about 9.15am on Thursday, but the driver failed to stop so a police pursuit began.

Within seconds, the fleeing driver hit a cyclist, prompting police to immediately abandon their chase. The officers stayed with the injured cyclist while other police patrols searched for the vehicle.

A short time later, the vehicle was seen again, but the driver again failed to stop for police.

"Officers deployed road spikes on Rapanui Road in an attempt to stop the car, however the car attempted to drive around the spikes and in doing so it smashed into a culvert," Harrison said in a statement.

The vehicle accelerated away and drove a further 2km, where a second set of road spikes had been laid.

TRACEY GRANT A fiery crash after a police chase in Whanganui has resulted in the death of a driver.

"In a further attempt to avoid the spikes, the vehicle has driven into a large truck, which was stationary on Tayforth Road. The car caught fire, and the driver died at the scene."

The cyclist suffered non life-threatening injuries but was taken by ambulance to hospital.

A Wanganui Hospital spokesman said the cyclist was discharged from the emergency department on Thursday morning.

Harrison said the truck driver was shaken but uninjured.

A spokesman from Hooker Pacific transport service confirmed the truck was from their fleet.

He said the driver had been taken home for the day and the company would make no further comment.

Several specialist police staff were at the scene and a scene examination was under way.

"An investigation into the circumstances of this morning's events has been launched, and as is routine, an investigation into the pursuit will also be carried out," he said.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority had been informed of the fatal crash.

Police were trying to identify the driver and would inform his next of kin.