One dead in Green Bay crash

A woman died in a car accident in Auckland tonight that has also left two others in a critical state and a fourth person with serious injuries.

The car carrying four people was coming out of a bend into a straight stretch on Connaught St, Green Bay, about 8.40pm, when it lost control and ploughed into trees near the entrance to the Motu Moana campsite.

"I was in bed. I heard this enormous crash and my whole house shook," said a Green Bay woman, who gave her name as Gail.

Another resident, who did not want to be named, said he was driving past the site just after the crash.

"There were four young people inside, a male and a female still conscious on the passenger side. The guy was screaming that he couldn't feel his legs.

"His girlfriend in the back was doing the same, 'I can't move, I can't move'. The driver and the other person, they looked gone, their heads were down.

"The whole car was totalled, a complete write-off. It was pretty horrific."

He said the footpath and road were littered with debris and car-parts.

He said he and two other people on the scene tried to calm the passengers while they called emergency services.

The Fire Service had to free two passengers.

A St John Ambulance spokesman said three people were taken to Auckland City Hospital, two with critical injuries and one in a serious condition.

Police are investigating whether the car may be linked to an attempted robbery in a Blockhouse Bay street half an hour before the crash.