A middle-aged Kaitaia woman who was left lying on a Kaitaia street after she caught someone stealing her car yesterday morning was asked by a log truck driver to get out of the way so he could get past.
The woman, who was left sprawled on Matthews Avenue after hercar had run over one of her legs, was asked by the truck driver to move her arm, a police spokesman said. She was taken to Kaitaia Hospital for precautionary X-rays, although her injuries were believed to be minor.
The woman had got into the front passenger seat when she realised someone was trying to take the car. The driver got it out on to the road then ejected her from the vehicle. He then headed north to Awanui and east on SH10.
A Kaitaia police officer who was on his way to work, saw the car, stationary, on SH10 at Kaingaroa, and arrested one of the occupants. The car was then driven back to Kaitaia, over road spikes that were deployed at the bottom of California Hill and at the Awanui junction.
The driver's side front tyre was shredded but the car continued another eight kilometres to Allen Bell Drive Kaitaia, not far from where it had been taken, where three more occupants were apprehended by police. At least one got away, while one of those who was apprehended reportedly ran home to his mother.
