Motorcyclist seriously injured after fleeing cops, crash with marked police vehicle in Auckland’s Waterview Tunnel

A motorcyclist has serious injuries after a crash with a police vehicle during a fleeing driver incident which ended in a tunnel on Auckland’s Southwestern Motorway.

A video shared with the Herald showed the motorcyclist dodging police officers and vehicles inside the southbound Waterview Tunnel on State Highway 20 this afternoon, causing traffic to halt.

Auckland road policing manager, Inspector Juliet Burgess, said the pursuit was shortly before 2.30pm after reports of the motorcyclist riding on the wrong side of the road in the northbound lane on SH20 near Walmsley.

Burgess said police signalled for the motorcyclist to stop, but the rider fled.

“Police blocked the northern end of the Waterview Tunnel and again signalled for the motorcycle to stop,” Burgess said.

“It did not stop and fled back into the tunnel.”

Burgess said the motorcyclist collided with a police vehicle inside the tunnel a short time later.

“The motorcyclist was transported to Auckland Hospital in a serious condition.”

One lane in the tunnel was blocked as the Serious Crash Unit conducted a scene examination, but all lanes have since re-opened.

“Police advise motorists to expect delays on the Southwestern Motorway and surrounding roading network,” Burgess said.

The matter would now be referred to the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) as is standard practice.

The video obtained by the Herald shows a marked police car driving the wrong way in the tunnel, attempting to stop the motorcyclist, who swerves around the vehicle and speeds off.

A witness, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Herald a man dressed in a red sweatshirt on a motorcycle was blocking the tunnel, causing traffic to come to a standstill.

“We passed by some police cars ... I assume the guy has been arrested,” the witness said.

UPDATE 5:20PM
All vehicles are clear of lanes, all lanes are OPEN in the Southbound Waterview Tunnel. https://t.co/YVrO1ZCkCy

— NZ Transport Agency - Auckland & Northland (@nztaaklnth) October 31, 2024

At 2.55pm, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) said a crash was blocking the left lane in the southbound Waterview Tunnel.

Lanes had reopened about 5.20pm.