Three people have been taken to hospital after a serious crash in Tauranga involving a vehicle that was briefly pursued by police in Rotorua.

A police statement said police initiated a pursuit on Paradise Valley Rd at 2:03 p.m., but abandoned it after a minute.

Police kept the vehicle in sight with staff in the area and traffic cameras as it headed towards Tauranga.

The vehicle crashed on Pyes Pa Rd at 2:38 p.m., near the intersection of Keenan Rd.

The Serious Crash Unit attended and will investigate the accident.