Crash-heavy 24hrs puts third in hospital

The motorcycle accident on Tamaki Drive. Photo / Greg Bowker

A motorcyclist is recovering in hospital after he fell off his bike in a collision and was run over by a bus in peak hour traffic yesterday.

He was one of three people rushed to hospital with serious to critical injuries in less than 24 hours after incidents on Auckland roads.

A 2-year-old boy is fighting for his life after he was hit by a car in Orakei just after 7pm on Sunday. Police said yesterday the toddler was walking with two other children - unsupervised - across a pedestrian crossing when he was hit. He suffered severe head injuries.

Child Youth and Family are working with the toddler's parents to ensure he and his siblings are safe.

Earlier on Sunday a man in his 50s or 60s was admitted to Middlemore Hospital with serious head injuries after his car collided with a truck in Otahuhu.

Police said yesterday the motorcyclist was travelling west on Tamaki Dr at about 9am. He collided with a bus as it turned right from Tamaki Dr into Ngapipi Rd.

The Serious Crash Unit is investigating. Sergeant Dougall Montgomery, who was at the scene, said it appeared the bus "rolled over" the man.

"He has serious injuries - head injuries and internal injuries and some bone fractures. But he's a very lucky guy," he said.

SCU officers are also investigating Richard Ram, the Remuera roofing apprentice who hit the 2-year-old.

Sergeant Paul Simcox said Mr Ram had been interviewed, but a decision on whether he would be charged was a few weeks away.

"From information we've got from witnesses, the kids were crossing on the pedestrian crossing," he said.

Mr Simcox said officers would speak to the toddler's parents as part of the investigation.

CYF head of operations Jo Field said the incident was "every parent's worst nightmare".

"Child, Youth and Family's main priority now is the well-being of this little boy and his siblings. We will be working with the family to make sure they have the right support in place and the children are safe."