Tractor versus house: Police, firefighters rush to Auckland’s North Shore

A runaway tractor which an Auckland Council contractor had been using to mow lawns rolled down a hill and into a home this morning.

The drama unfolded at 7.30am on Glenfield Rd, starting at the Oruamo Reserve on the North Shore.

The homeowner, Brendan Schwass, told the Herald he was sitting on the couch at the time.

A house on Glenfield Road, North Shore, Auckland, was left with a hole in the roof and smashed section of wall when a tractor crashed into it. Photo: RNZ / Finn Blackwell

“I heard breaking glass and a crashing sound behind me. I ran outside at the back and saw the tractor had hit my house, it had gone inside through my wife’s office window. The retaining walls and roof is damaged.

”It was a pretty unexpected event.”

Schwass said the driver was not in the vehicle but had been taking photos of the mowed grass when the truck rolled.

“It rolled down the hill without him. It has not happened before.

A tractor on Glenfield crashed into a home this morning. Photo / Michael Craig

Damage caused by a tractor after it rolled into a house on Glenfield Rd. Photo / Michael Craig

“The tractor has been pulled out now. Thanks to Ace Towing who spotted it and came to help. Police and firefighters have been good too.”

Witness Kristy De Vries said she was on her way to work at 7.17am on Glenfield Rd when she saw the tractor rolling the hill.

“The driver wasn’t in the tractor and was waving his hands in the air while running down the hill too.

“I couldn’t go faster because of the cars in front of me so I just slammed my brakes and stopped.

“The tractor came so fast past the front of my car and hit the curb and was kind of airlifted a little before crashing into the house.”

De Vries said she quickly called 111 for help and turned around to check if anyone was hurt.

Police inspect the damage. Photo / Michael Craig

A tractor has crashed into a house this morning on Glenfield Rd, North Shore. Photo / Michael Craig

“The guy living in the house had just come out and I asked if anyone was hurt he said, ‘No it was my wife’s study’. I was shaking from the whole thing as I was scared for everyone involved. Including my baby girl in the back seat. I thank God he was watching over everyone today and that no one was hurt.”

A fire and emergency spokesperson said a crew was at the crash. Police also attended. There have been no reports of injuries.

Auckland Council head of area operations Julie Pickering said details of what happened were still coming through but “we are thankful that no one was injured”.

”This morning, we were informed of an incident in Glenfield involving one of our contractors. We are working with our contractor today, with urgency, to investigate the cause of the incident.”