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A Marine Parade resident says he woke to what he believed was a woman, trapped in a crashed car on the dunes opposite his property, desperately crying out for help.
Three people were badly injured, including one who is fighting for their life, after their car left the road andhit a sand dune on Marine Parade in Mount Maunganui at 1.20am today.
Two of the three patients, who were taken to Tauranga Hospital, were cut free from the car by firefighters using rescue equipment.
Marine Parade resident, who did not wish to be named, told the Bay of Plenty Times he only became aware there had been a crash after he was awoken by someone yelling out "help me, help me, get me out".
The man said he and his wife headed to bed about 10pm and, as they were sound asleep, they did not hear the dramatic crash impact but he heard the loud cry for help.
"That's what woke me. I didn't get up myself but my wife did and she spent about an hour-and-a-half watching what was going on from our balcony," the man said.
"I could also hear someone moaning but I'm not sure whether it was the woman or another person from the car," the resident said.
The woman resident said she could see a car up on the dunes and at least four police cars and two fire trucks. The firefighters were using the jaws of life to remove people trapped from the "squashed" car.
"I also saw two ambulances arrive and I could also see a man sitting on the grass near the beach access sign who probably was able to get himself out.
"Two guys from a few doors down were talking to him, but it was quite dark so I wasn't sure how many occupants in total were in the car," she said.
"The car was a right mess when the tow truck removed... It was all squeezed in and I can't believe anyone survived," the woman said.
The car crash on Marine Parade this morning is being investigated by police. Photo/ Sandra Conchie
Two other residents, who did not wish to be named, said they arrived home about 3am and discovered their property was inside a police cordon.
"I have never seen anything like this before. The car was on top of the dunes with its lights facing towards the road. It was pretty spectacular scene, with lots of police everywhere.
"The car was pretty damaged and it's a wonder no one was killed," one of two men said.
"If the direction of the car [on dunes] had been 5m closer it would have hit my friend's car," he said.
Two 21-year-old females are currently in a serious but stable condition in Tauranga Hospital's Intensive Care Unit and a 19-year-old male is stable in a ward at Tauranga Hospital.
The Serious Crash Unit is investigating the cause of the crash.
