Deadly smash: Driver killed, car wrecked in Dominion Rd, Auckland city crash

One person has died after a crash left a car wrecked and nearby properties damaged in central Auckland this morning.

The fatal crash sent debris flying through properties and was so loud, one local resident said he thought a plane had crashed nearby.

The crash destroyed a power pole and appeared to cause damage to another car at the scene as debris flew. Photo / Dean Purcell

The devastation was visible this morning as crews worked to clear the area and stunned neighbours woke to see the damage to properties.

Police said one person had died in the crash on Dominion Rd, between Memorial Ave and Mt Albert Rd, in Mt Roskill about 1.30am.

Local resident Ganesh Goundar woke after hearing what sounded like a "massive bombardment".

"I thought there was a plane crash right on top of the house."

He ran out to see what was happening and other local residents did the same. The local residents could not see the driver anywhere.

A piece of rock or concrete from the crash had smashed through one of the windows at Goundar's house.

"It could have been the concrete from a power pole, because that was broken into pieces. The pieces went flying everywhere."

He said as emergency services arrived, smoke was still coming out of the car.

"There were pieces of car, the boot and the fence."

He believed the car was travelling south, from the city, before it left the road, hit multiple fences, destroyed a power pole, and spun around.

"The whole fence was gone, then to another house, then to another house, then the tree. Then the car went and hit another big tree and swung, hitting one of the traffic lights."

Goundar said the power pole fell, bringing electrical wires down.

Fences were wrecked and a local resident's window damaged when the crash sent debris hurtling into the property. Photo / Dean Purcell

His house still had no power shortly before 10am and workers were in the area this morning clearing debris and trying to restore electricity.

"A car was seen driving at excess speed on Dominion Road around 1.30am," police said in a statement. "The vehicle was not pursued, but observed on cameras."

The driver lost control at high speed at the Dominion Road and Mount Albert Rd intersection, police said.

"The vehicle has then rolled and continued on hitting power poles and the front of a building.

The BMW crashed in Auckland's Mt Roskill at about 1.30am. Photo / Hayden Woodward

"The driver was the only occupant of the vehicle and died at the scene."

Fire and Emergency New Zealand said the car was reported to have rolled.

"I was woken last night at about 1.15am by what I think was the car going past," another local resident told the Herald.

"It went past at incredible speed. In five years of living here it was easily the fastest car to go by my place," he added.

"I remember thinking that it was not going to end well for the driver."

Shortly before 1pm, police said the road around the crash scene was open again to traffic.