A friend of 12-year-old Meadow James who died during a police chase in Palmerston North has a warning for other youths looking to fit in.

"Life is more precious that jumping in a stolen car and trying to be cool and popular. Think about the consequences," the friend told the Herald.

Meadow James was the front-seat passenger in a stolen Subaru that slid into a ditch and hit a power pole near Palmerston North about 1.30pm on Monday as the car fled police.

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She was killed at the scene and the 15-year-old driver, Ihaia Maxwell, died in hospital.

The friend is 20 years old and asked not to be named.

She described Meadow as a young girl who "had so much potential in her life" and was "too young to go".

There were concerns that more young people were getting involved with reckless activities like getting in stolen cars and trying to evade police, she said.

"They are worried about being cool. It sorta is like that with young children, they are trying to fit in."

Meadow was a "normal teenager" who was into socialising.

"The last time I seen her and she was happy and wanted to be with friends and family."

Twelve-year-old Meadow James (left) was killed in a crash during a police pursuit in Palmerston North. Photo / Supplied

Friends and relatives have shared their grief in emotional tributes posted on social media.

Meadows' distraught mother, Rachel James, told 1 News she was still stunned. Meadow's brother Leif was also killed in a stolen blue Subaru during a police pursuit in Australia five years ago.

"It's the second time. I've already lost a child."

Fighting back tears, James said she thought her daughter had gone to her course and it was only when she returned home from work she found out Meadow had got in the car with Ihaia.

"I play back what I could have changed. I could have done better, but it's happened and I can't do anything.

"There is nothing we can do to change it. I don't blame anyone. I don't blame the family of the boy who was driving. It's just, you know, they never wanted for their son to die either. It's just one of those things that has happened and now we have to accept it."

Rebecca James said her sister was already beating herself up and did not need the negative comments the family had been receiving on social media about the crash.

"As a parent ... someone who has lost a child [who's] saying she could have done better, she is beating herself up already."

District commander Superintendent Sue Schwalger said yesterday an officer saw the wanted Subaru being driven on Monrad St about 1.30pm, and signalled it to stop.

"The Subaru continued driving, travelling on to Pioneer Highway and crashed into a ditch, hitting a power pole at the intersection of Shirriffs Rd."

The tragedy comes less than five years after Meadow's brother, Leif James, died in hauntingly similar circumstances.