One person has been taken to hospital with moderate injuries after a police car crashed into a bus stop leaving a major road in central Auckland closed for several hours.
The crash occurred while police were investigating a vehicle in the Mt Albert area just after 11 am, Inspector Kerry Watson said.
Around this time a member of the public’s vehicle exited a driveway on New North Road, the police car attempted to evade the vehicle however it collided with the vehicle and a nearby bus stop.
One person was transported to Auckland Hospital in a serious condition and three other people were treated at the scene for minor injuries.
An investigation is underway into the circumstances of the crash, Watson said.
Auckland Transport confirmed at 1:30pm that New North Rd in Mt Albert has been reopened after being closed for several hours.
A woman who heard the loud crash and ran outside said there were sirens before the smash.
A section of New North Rd in Auckland's Mt Albert is closed following a crash involving a police car. Photo / Jed Bradley
Photo / Jed Bradley
“We get police sirens in the area all the time. I didn’t think anything of it, and then I heard the car screeching and the bang.
“I went outside and saw the police car crashed into the bus shelter.”
She didn’t know if anyone was at the bus stop at the time of the crash but said an ambulance turned up 20 minutes later.
“The bus shelter is usually used by elderly shoppers,” she said.
“I was there within a minute of the crash, and there were already four to five plain-clothed officers and the Eagle helicopter above the scene,” she said.
The resident said the sound of the crash was loud and long, and the police car’s horn has been continuously honking for more than 40 minutes.
The police car was already empty by the time she got outside.
“It was very surprising, the crash looked pretty serious.”
A vehicle left in the middle of the busy Mt Albert road after the police car crash. Photo / Jed Bradley
Annette Matthew who lives on Willcott St in Mt Albert said she was working from home when she heard what she thought was a police chase.
“Then an almighty bang and a continuous car alarm or horn going off.”
A staff member at Hell Pizza Mt Albert told the Herald four or five police cars were on either side of the road.
“I was not allowed to drive here and was not able to get in the car park.”
Some buses will be detoured until further notice because of the crash, Auckland Transport said.
Bus routes 22N, 22R services will be detoured until further notice, due to an incident on New North Rd between McLean St & Mt Albert Rd. Bus stops closed: 8236, 8237, 8234, 8235, 8232, 8233. Use the AT Mobile App for specific detour details. Expect delays. Updates to follow. pic.twitter.com/hN1C7OLZAn
— Auckland Transport Travel Alerts (@AT_TravelAlerts) April 25, 2023
The Serious Crash Unit is attending the scene and an investigation will now commence into the circumstances of the crash.
