Taiwanese man crushed by car was in Auckland to visit 19-year son: reports

The Taiwanese man died at Highland Park on Saturday. Photo / Michael Craig

A Taiwanese man who tragically died when accidentally crushed by a car had recently flown into the country to visit his 19-year-old son, according to media reports.

The man died in the driveway of a Pitlochry Place home in Highland Park in east Auckland when an unoccupied car rolled on top of him.

Police confirmed the 53-year-old man was a Taiwanese national, who had recently arrived in the county.

A neighbour, who did not wish to be named, told Stuff on Monday the man was checking the car's battery with his 19-year-old son shortly before the accident.

The man and his wife had arrived in New Zealand two or three days earlier to visit their son, who was studying in the country and described as "nice" and "diligent" by the neighbour.

"They were trying to make the car go or check the battery, and there was nobody in the car," the neighbour said.

"We came around the corner and the body was under the car. The car was facing the house, it rolled all the way from the top of the hill.

Another neighbour, Darren Warren, told the Herald on Saturday he had just returned from a walk when he found the man pinned beneath the cars.

Police and emergency services had set up a cordon on his quiet cul de sac, yet Warren could still see the aftermath of the tragic accident.

"I saw a body lying covered on the ground, it was at the house of my friend," he said.

"Fortunately I saw my friend a bit later so I was very relieved to see him there."

Warren was upset someone had died at the address. "It is very sad indeed," he said.

Police said they had been called to the emergency at 12.15pm on Saturday.

When contacted by the Herald the owner of the house said he did not want to comment.

Resident Donald Watson also said at the time there were about eight police cars at the incident.

"There is a lime green family sedan type car over a driveway and that seems to be the centre of interest," Watson said.

"An ambulance arrived but it was not required, it left without taking anyone away."

Watson did not hear any noises around the time of the incident.

He said the first he knew of anything was when emergency services arrived in the street.

"Police told us to go back inside our houses," he said.