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Hamilton police say it is miraculous no one was killed in a mini crime rampage that saw a man attempt to run over a woman before dragging her mother down the street as she grabbed his hair.
The man later picked up five hitchhikers and took them on a terrifying ride avoiding road spikes, driving on the wrong side of the road towards oncoming traffic and ramming three police cars before he lost control of his car and went off the road at Gordonton.
Hamilton City Area Commander Rob Lindsay said the drama began when a car was driven at four people outside a house on Mount View Rd in Melville, in the southwest city, last night.
Three people jumped clear, but a 20-year-old woman was dragged under the car about five metres.
The driver, a 34-year-old beneficiary, allegedly reversed
"We know it could have been more serious as this person had another attempt to drive over the injured person narrowly missing their head," said Mr Lindsay.
The woman's mother allegedly tried to grab hold of the steering wheel before she was dragged 100 metres down the road and eventually thrown clear of the vehicle.
Incredibly, neither the woman nor her daughter suffered serious injuries.
About an hour later, police saw the car on Holland Rd, in the northeast of Hamilton, and tried to pull it over.
The driver, who had picked up five female hitchhikers wanting a ride home, did not stop and reached speeds of up to 100 km/h going in the wrong lane and avoiding road spikes.
He rammed three patrol cars causing about $10,000 worth of damage
Two women jumped from the car at a service station at Five Cross Roads and said the driver had a firearm.
The remaining three women pleaded to be let out of the car and managed to escape a short time later.
The driver, heading towards Gordonton, 10km northeast of Hamilton, drove towards an oncoming police car but eventually lost control of his car and crashed into a ditch.
An imitation handgun, homemade baton and spear were found in the car.
The man was due to appear in Hamilton District Court today charged with assaulting a person with a blunt instrument, operating a motor vehicle recklessly, possession of an offensive weapon and failing to stop or ascertain injury.
"Bearing in mind interviews are still being conducted but the initial information I have before me it's very lucky we are not facing a homicide," said Mr Lindsay.
