The driver who fled police this morning in South Auckland before fatally crashing into a tree in Otara was in a car that travelled the wrong way up an Auckland motorway last month.

Three people were trapped this morning, and the driver, named by police as Morocco Tai, 15, died soon after, when a stolen car crashed on Bairds Rd in Otara about 6am after failing to stop for police.

Police have this afternoon confirmed the driver was an occupant in a car that was driven the wrong way down an Auckland motorway on September 22.

In that instance, the car was eventually stopped on Great South Road. Morocco was charged with aggravated robbery, endangering transport and aiding a driver in a dangerous matter.

The youth had absconded from hospital, Tamariki Ora told 1 NEWS, where he had been after been apprehended by police in September.

Two other female occupants of the car in this morning's crash were taken to hospital.

Inspector Dave Simpson of Counties Manukau Police said fleeing drivers were all too common, and had to stop.

"The previous motorway incident for example ... literally hundreds of members of the public had their lives affected that day when that car was out of control," Inspector Simpson said.

"What young people see is joyriding, but as today’s events show, there can be tragic outcomes."

In terms of how he was able to escape from hospital and steal another car, Inspector Simpson said that lies with other authorities.

"Police did their job when we apprehended him, after that it's not our issue," he said.