Driver arrested after multi-vehicle crash

A car involved in the crash on Dominion Road. Photo / Steven McNicholl

A man faces a charge of driving while incapable after crashing into several parked vehicles near a busy Auckland intersection today.

He is alleged to have hit four parked vehicles during a late morning incident near the intersection of Dominion Rd and Valley Rd in the inner city suburb of Mt Eden.

The man was assessed by ambulance staff, but did not want further medical treatment, police spokeswoman Noreen Hegarty said.

Two other people were taken to hospital for observation.

Police were alerted at 10.52am and were told by witnesses that a car was driven in an "erratic and dangerous manner" before hitting other vehicles.

The driver was taken into custody by members of the Armed Offenders Squad, who happened to be in the area as part of a drug operation targeting the Hells Angels' gang headquarters in a nearby street.

Ralph Ingram, manager of the Videon video store on Dominion Road, was walking to a bank when the incident happened and he said it the fortunate that the consequences were not more severe.

"There were tons of people around," he said. "Luckily no one died."

Mr Ingram said he heard the sounds of a car braking and then something smashing.

"When I looked up, I saw a maroon car come screaming across the road and hit a white pick-up and bounce off," he said.

"There was more noise and then he smashed into a black Integra."

When the car came to a stop, passers-by went to check on the driver, who came out clutching a rugby ball and looked around, before shock appeared to set in and he sat down and started to cry.

- NZPA