Star's son drops in but nobody home

The BMW on the roof of the Upland Rd house last night. Picture / Kenny Rodger

A teenager escaped unhurt after his BMW car left the road and landed on the roof of a Remuera house last night.

The accident involving Alex Beck, son of Television NZ presenter Susan Wood, occurred in Upland Rd just before 9pm.

The elderly occupant of the house was not home at the time.

Donald Serra-Stacey, a friend of Mr Beck, said at the scene last night that he was driving in front of the BMW when he noticed in his rear-view mirror that it was "going on an angle" on to the footpath.

Pulling over, Mr Serra-Stacey phoned Mr Beck, who said, "Whoa, I just went off a cliff."

When Mr Serra-Stacey got out of his car, he found Mr Beck standing on the road.

Mr Beck told him he had had to kick his car door open to get out.

"I was shocked and grateful to see him there," Mr Serra-Stacey said.

Two young girls across the road, one of whom was on a sleepover, heard the crash and ran downstairs to tell the adults in the house.

Claudia Riley, 9, said: "We heard a big boom. It was the most exciting sleepover we have had."

Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said she saw Susan Wood arrive.

"I thought she was here to cover a story ... She seemed rattled and acted like a typical mother."

Mr Beck is the older of Wood's two sons to former husband Duncan Beck, a pilot.