In our day we parked at the kerb ...

Two residents of the Ranfurly Home discuss the fix the young driver got himself into. Photo / Sarah Ivey

A motorist walked away without a scratch yesterday evening after his car plunged down a bank, landing vertically against the wall of a war veterans' rest home in Auckland.

The convertible left tyre marks on the road as Jiada Chen slammed on the brakes in a bid to avoid hitting the Ranfurly Home & Hospital in Three Kings.

The car came to a stop without damaging the building and the 24-year-old Lynfield mechanic was able to clamber out uninjured once someone opened the driver's door.

The elderly resident of the unit nearest the collision scene, who did not want to be named, said he was watching the news on television when he heard an "almighty bang".

"It's a shame, eh?" he said.

Mr Chen said he lost control of the car when he hit a bump overtaking someone after taking off from the intersection of Mt Eden Rd and Mt Albert Rd, heading up to Warren Ave.

Jane Chandra-Hills, whose father is a Ranfurly resident, said the consequence of the crash could have been far worse. "How dare he do that next to a veterans' hospital!" she said.

"I was so angry because a lot of these elderly people are in their 90s and they tottle along that road."

A police spokesman said staff had only Mr Chen's account of the crash and would talk to witnesses.

However, a summons would be issued for the driver to attend court.

Mr Chen, who did not have car insurance, said he was still in shock.

He had bought the car for $20,000 three years before.

"I'm just trying to stay calm," he said, shaking his head as a tow truck stood by to haul the convertible out.