Driver killed in six car pile-up named

The scene of yesterday's fatal crash. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Police have named the elderly driver who was instantly killed when a man allegedly rammed a police car, rolled his jeep, and landed on top of another car.

Michael Roden Plimmer, 71, of Albany was killed instantly. Police allege Cornelis Klein, 50, caused the crash after becoming suicidal and "shouting and screaming".

Klein later told police he had rammed the police car on purpose because he thought they were going too fast when they passed him, according to police documents.

He is alleged to have been driving with his ex-partner's 18-year-old daughter yesterday when he began talking about taking his own life, the police summary of facts said.

"He described his own actions, admitting accelerating into the rear of the police vehicle, stating he wanted to punish them for passing him" the document said.

According to the summary, Klein was driving along the Albany Expressway, north Auckland, when his "behaviour changed with him shouting and screaming".

Police allege the woman pleaded for Klein to pull over and let her out but Klein refused.

The police summary said it was not until the woman threatened to call police that Klein pulled over to the side of the road.

The woman got out of the jeep, leaving her handbag in the car but taking her cellphone, which she then used to call police.

"The defendant started to walk after the passenger, following her for about 100 metres, before he returned to his vehicle," the police summary said.

A patrol car on nearby East Coast Bays Road was first to reach Klein, arriving at Rosedale Road with lights and sirens going.

The traffic behind Klein pulled over to let the police car through and it overtook Klein on his left-hand side.

"As the police passed the defendant, he put his arm out the driver's window and made a one-finger gesture at him," the summary of facts said.
Police said Klein then chased police at speeds of up to 90km/h.

After about 2km the police car, followed by Klein, came to a red light where police said Klein deliberately rammed it from behind at speed.

The ramming pushed the patrol car into the path of incoming traffic causing more collisions.

Klein's jeep rolled onto its side, before coming to a stop on top of another car and crushing its roof. Mr Plimmer was killed instantly, police said.

Klein managed to crawl from his jeep and was taken by ambulance to North Shore Hospital before being discharged into police custody.

The police officers involved in the crash were shaken but uninjured.

Today at North Shore District Court, Klein made a brief appearance - he said "hello" to the public gallery before being remanded for psychiatric assessment.

His lawyer Geoffrey Anderson told the court that his client was "slightly ill".

Klein is due to reappear later this month.