Car wrecked but driver fit enough to flee

Firefighters 'expected the worst' when they arrived to the scene of the crash. Photo / Supplied

People first on the scene of a nasty car crash were expecting the worst - but found the driver wasn't there.

Mt Albert Rd residents were woken just after 5am on Sunday after a dark blue Lexus slammed into a power pole.

"I was asleep and I heard this massive explosion," said Geoff Parr.

"I thought a building had collapsed. I ran out and all the lights were off in the street because the car had hit the pole. There were sirens going off and burglar alarms."

Emergency services arrived moments later and Mr Parr said the looks on their faces made him think the crash was fatal.

"By the way they were all acting I thought someone must have been deceased. But when they opened the door, there was no one in the car.

"The fireman said they were expecting the worst when they first saw the car. But the driver just got out and ran off."

Police were investigating the crash and trying to identify the driver.