Driver seriously injured as car crashes into house in Gate Pā, Tauranga

A male driver was seriously injured after a car crashed into the front of a showroom in Gate Pā, yesterday.

Karly Valentine was staying at a friend's house near the Golden Homes showroom at the intersection of Cameron Rd and Church St when she heard the crash about 11.30am.

"I heard a bang that sounded like a car had hit another car. Then there was another bang and glass smashed."

Valentine, who has a first aid certificate, rushed to help.

"They were stuck in the car for a bit. I was trying to find tools and everything to get them out."

A police spokeswoman said a car had hit a power pole before crashing into the Golden Homes showroom at the intersection of Cameron Rd and Church St, near the Gate Pā shopping centre.

A male driver was seriously injured and taken to Tauranga Hospital, a police officer at the scene said.

A passerby said it was not the first time a car had crashed into the house, which had only recently been repaired from the last crash.

The general manager of Steel Frame Construction, which trades as Golden Homes, Saint Whatuira, said staff were a "bit shaken up" following the incident.

"They are a bit distraught ... They have gone home for the day and probably tomorrow too."

Whatuira said a car crashed into the same showroom at Easter, but this time the damage was worse.

"It came through the front door and hit one of the internal walls which backs onto the kitchen," he said. "Thankfully no-one was in the way when it happened."

He said the company's builders and tradies had already started to repair the building, but the showhome would be closed to the public until the home was fixed.