NZTA says is aware of the incident on Auckland Harbour Bridge but says there is no CCTV footage. Photo / File
NZTA says is aware of the incident on Auckland Harbour Bridge but says there is no CCTV footage. Photo / File
A young motorist says she has been left with a bill she can't afford after a large hunk of metal crashed into her windscreen on Auckland Harbour Bridge causing thousands of dollars in damage.
Melissa Boerlage says a sheet of metal, about 1.5m wide by 1m long, flew over the car in front of her before narrowly missing the left hand side of her vehicle on the bridge on November 4.
Boerlage then slowed her car as a second piece smashed into the windscreen of her 2006 yellow Honda Jazz.
The piece of sheet metal didn't smash the window, but left scratches across her windscreen. The impact also caused the rear view mirror and inside lights to fall down.
However, NZTA says there are no pieces of metal missing from the bridge and a description of the object "does not fit the description of any components used in the bridge superstructure or walkway grating".
The incident happened while the University of Auckland student was travelling north-bound across the bridge in the second lane from the centre.
Auckland student Melissa Boerlage says a piece of metal flew into her car as she drove across the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Photo / Supplied
"It didn't go through the windscreen but if I had been going 80km/h it probably would have killed me."
In shock, the 18-year-old said she pulled over and stopped in the middle of the bridge.
When no one else stopped, she drove to the next intersection and rang police.
Boerlage said she was speaking out because she didn't want this to happen to another motorist and wants NZTA to take some responsibility.
"I think it was a piece of a bridge."
Boerlage said there were signs warning motorists there were high winds over the harbour bridge, but the bridge had remained open.
"If it happens to me what if it happens to someone else."
Melissa Boerlage believes a piece of metal fell from Auckland Harbour bridge, damaging her car. But NZTA says no pieces of metal are missing from the bridge. Photo / Supplied
She had contacted a mechanic through her insurance company who estimated repairs would cost $2500.
Boerlage's insurance would cover the damage, but she still had to pay an excess of $1000 and was worried her premiums would rise which she said as a student was money she simply didn't have.
A police media spokesperson confirmed police were advised at 1.17pm on November 4 that a piece of metal had hit the windscreen of a vehicle travelling on the Northern Motorway.
Police contacted contractors to remove the piece of metal, but did not have any further information as police did not attend.
A Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency spokesman said the agency was aware of the incident.
It was reported to police and a motorway response crew went to pick up debris on the bridge. There was no CCTV footage of the incident.
"The response crew confirms it picked up a piece of light metal sheet, which has now been disposed of. There are no pieces of steel missing from the bridge and the size and type of steel picked up does not fit the description of any components used in the bridge superstructure or walkway grating."
