Teenage girl seriously injured when dragged under car

A worker picks up a road sign by the drag mark left on Karamu Road. Picture / Steven McNicholl

A terrified teenage driver reversing from a fight dragged another girl more than 300 metres under her car in Hastings last night.

The 17-year-old driver was among a group of teens gathered outside Hastings Boys' High School, Karamu Road, after the regional final of the national youth Search for the Stars competition at the school.

Detective Sergeant Luke Shadbolt said a fight broke out between two girls.

The driver got into her car, reversed and knocked her 15-year-old victim under her car as she fled in panic.

The girl was dragged from the front of the school to the Murdoch Road intersection - a distance of about 300 metres - before she slowed down long enough to hear screaming and banging from beneath her car and realised what had happened.

The drag mark was still evident on Karamu Road and Murdoch Road this morning.

The injured girl underwent surgery at Hawke's Bay Hospital and was reported to be in a serious, but stable condition today.

She has a broken arm, serious injuries to both legs and multiple abrasions to her lower body.

Mr Shadbolt said the two girls went to the same school and were known to each other but it was clear the victim had not been targeted by the driver.

Police had spoken to many of the group who were outside the school, but still wanted to speak to anyone who saw what happened.

No decision on whether charges would be laid would be made until their investigations were finished, he said.

The shocked and upset driver had co-operated fully with police, he said.

Hastings Boys' High principal Rob Sturch said the incident marred what had otherwise been a great evening attended by 300 to 400 people.

"We had schools from Gisborne to Dannevirke here and everything had gone really well till this happened."

He understood the victim was not involved in the fight.

- HAWKE'S BAY TODAY