Tokoroa teen run down

Police attend the scene at Baberton St, Tokoroa. Photo / Herald on Sunday

A 15-year-old student was last night fighting for his life after being deliberately run down in Tokoroa.

Seth Tera was in a critical condition in Waikato Hospital's intensive care unit after surgery for serious head and chest injuries.

The Tokoroa High School student's friends and family were keeping a bedside vigil and said they were adamant they knew who was responsible.

A source said Tera and three friends were staying at one of the boy's grandmother's house but went for a walk around the town centre about 3.30am.

They were accosted by a group of men in a car and ran off in different directions to avoid being beaten up.

Police said Tera was chased for several blocks before being run down in Baberton St.

Police were investigating possible gang links to the attack but said investigations were ongoing.

A Baberton St resident, who did not want to be named, was woken by "what sounded like a chainsaw revving".

He heard a vehicle doing "high revs" and upset-sounding women shouting.

"I looked out the window and saw a black Isuzu hooning off from a side street by the house."

He heard a woman shout "they went that way" as a white Honda Odyssey came out from further down the road and followed the Isuzu.

The man believes the Isuzu veered off the road and into the yard of a house, crashing through a fence as it exited the property.

Detective Sergeant Kevan Verry of Tokoroa CIB said police were still piecing together what happened and were treating the incident as a serious assault.

The incident was believed to have followed an "altercation" in the town centre.

The area was cordoned off yesterday.

Anyone with information about the attack is asked to contact Tokoroa Police.

- ADDITIONAL REPORTING: Alice Neville