Car hits boy on busy city road

A 10-year-old boy is in a serious condition after being hit by a car in the northern suburbs of Whangarei last night.

The incident left SH1 closed while ambulance staff rushed to get the boy to hospital - and had locals detailing decades of calls to get a bypass built.

The boy was crossing a stretch of highway called Kamo Rd when he was hit by a southbound car about 5.30pm.

"The driver stopped immediately and is helping the police," said acting Inspector Danny Meade.

He said the serious crash unit was investigating but alcohol did not appear to have been a factor.

The driver was receiving assistance from Victim Support.

One resident said he drove past shortly after the crash.

"A lot of people cross the road there. You have shops on one side and flats on the other.

"People don't use the crossings and instead run out to the middle of the road."

Rodney Palmer, who lives near the crash site, said he often worried about children playing on the busy road.

"There's quite a few families around here but it's State Highway 1," he said.

"A lot of kids are down on the footpath here playing on bikes. It's my biggest fear that one will come through on their bike and go under a truck."

Palmer said he often heard tyres squealing as vehicles were forced to brake quickly.

Work is under way on a bypass that will eliminate some of the heavy traffic from the road. It is scheduled to be completed next year.

"It'll be really good, I can't wait for it. They've been talking about it for about 20 years."

Whangarei deputy mayor Kahu Sutherland said last night's incident was "devastating".

"It really does hit home when you hear about something like this.

"Everything we do is about improving safety, footpaths, speed limits. Everything is about cherishing, protecting, and respecting life.

"I feel for the parents and family of the boy. I deeply regret all the pain and anxiety they are feeling right now.

"I just hope the boy comes out all right."

District councillor Crichton Christie said the work would extend the existing Kamo Rd bypass so State Highway traffic would no longer pass through the Whau Valley shops.

He said the shops were a "squeeze point" and the volume of traffic had caused safety concerns for locals.

"Council has been pushing very strongly to get the bypass finished."