Tragedy at IHC home

A resident at an Auckland care home for the intellectually disabled was run over and killed in the driveway as he checked the mailbox on Friday afternoon.

Michael Carroll, 63, died about 3.30pm after being driven back to the IHC property in Albany following a day out.

Carroll, who had lived in the home for 16 years, had left the 8-seater IHC van and walked to the mailbox at the bottom of the drive when the driverless vehicle rolled down and struck him.

Sergeant Stu Kearns of the Waitemata serious crash unit said it was not known if the handbrake had failed, or if it had been used at all.

The vehicle is being tested by police and Kearns said it was too early to say if the driver would face any charges.

One neighbour, who declined to be named, said she rushed to the scene when she heard a crash to find Carroll under the van.

She tried to comfort him but he was already becoming unresponsive.

"I actually feel really sad that I couldn't do any more for him."

IHC communications manager Philippa Sellens declined to comment until after the police investigation.

"It's a tragic accident and there will be a finding from the police in the future."