A number of youths were seen pushing a car out of the way of oncoming traffic after the driver crashed into a centre barrier between Moffat Road and State Highway 2, Bethlehem.
A police media communications spokeswoman said a member of the public reported the crash at 1.30am on Sunday.
"A whole lot of youths were seen pushing the car out of the way," she said.
The spokeswoman said one of the four people inside the car fled the scene and another received medical treatment.
Meanwhile, a woman was taken to Tauranga Hospital with moderate injuries after the car she was driving hit a bank on State Highway 29, Matapihi, at 4.53am on Sunday.
A police media communications spokeswoman said the woman was assessed by St John Ambulance at the scene before being taken to the hospital's emergency department with moderate injuries.