Four people were seriously injured in a Titirangi car crash this morning. Photo / Hayden Woodward
Four people have been injured in an early morning crash after a police pursuit in West Auckland.
Police spotted a vehicle speeding on Titirangi Rd about 2.30am, a police spokesperson said.
"The unit attempted to stop the vehicle but it has fled from police.
"A short pursuit was initiated, which lasted a matter of seconds before the vehicle crashed into a parked car on Atkinson Rd."
Three occupants of the vehicle, aged 18, 19 and 25 suffered serious injuries and are in Auckland City Hospital.
A fourth occupant of the vehicle, aged 17, received minor injuries and is in North Shore Hospital.
A police investigation is under way and the matter has been referred to the Independent Police Conduct Authority.
The Serious Crash Unit is at the scene and will remain there for some time.
The road is closed but an update from road authorities at 7am said it was expected to be reopened within an hour.
A resident, who asked not to be named, said he woke up to a loud crash outside his house.
"Man, it was really loud. It was just the loudest 'woomph'! The cops were right behind them. I jumped out and asked: 'Are you alright? Are you alright?'
"There was just moaning and screaming."
A photographer at the scene described the vehicle involved as "twisted metal" and said the passenger side appeared to have been cut to get at least one or two people out of the car.
A worker at the nearby GAS Kaurilands petrol station - on the corner of Atkinson Rd and Kaurilands Rd - said it appeared the crash happened a little further up the road, near Woodfern Crescent.
Standing outside just after 6am, he told the Herald: "There are cops up there, but the traffic is flowing both ways. There's one police car I can see - the lights are flashing."
Residents on a local community Facebook page reported hearing the collision, with one woman saying it "sounded pretty bad".
Another resident said part of the road had been blocked off and that traffic was being diverted down Daffodil St.
The NZ Transport Agency issued an alert via its social media channels at 6am confirming the closure.
Motorists were told to allow for extra travel time as a result.
Four St John ambulance vehicles were sent to the scene.
The circumstances of the crash - dubbed as a "traffic incident" - are not yet fully known at this stage.
St John said all other inquiries were to be referred to police, who have been asked for comment.
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