Hastings hit and run: Car located following incident which left man critically injured

Police have been at the scene of an incident in Camberley, Hastings, since this morning, residents say. Photo / Paul Taylor

Police have located a vehicle believed to be involved in a hit and run which left one person critically injured in Hastings on Saturday.

A police spokesperson confirmed a car, believed to have been involved in the incident, had been located, but had no further information at this stage.

Police had been searching for the car, an older model silver Mazda 323, after it struck three people on Saturday morning around 9.30am.

A man pushed a baby to safety before being hit by the car - leaving him critically injured - residents said.

Three people were on the footpath on Maraekakaho Rd, near the intersection with Francis Hicks Ave, when a car travelling on the wrong side of the road mounted the footpath and struck them, a police spokeswoman said.

All three were hurt, one critically, she said.

Joyce O'Callaghan was inside her nearby Lowe St home when she heard a car "speeding around the corner" on to Maraekakaho Rd, and then a "big bang".

A neighbour later told her one of two men with the baby had saved the infant's life, O'Callaghan said.

The woman told O'Callaghan she was pulling open her curtains when she saw the crash.

"She told me there was a man pushing a pram and he tried to save the baby by pushing it away, but he was very badly injured."

When O'Callaghan went outside soon after she saw a man lying on grass next to the footpath.

"I saw four or five people working on him."

She also saw police take a pram away.

Police at the intersection of Maraekakaho Rd and Lowe St, in Hastings, today. Photo / Paul Taylor

A man with critical injuries was taken by an ambulance to Hawke's Bay Hospital following the 9.30am incident, a St John spokeswoman said.

Ambulance officers also tried to assess a baby, but were unable, she said.

"[The baby] was taken privately to an A & E clinic. I understand the infant's [injuries] were minor ... and didn't need to be taken to hospital."

She did not know the baby's age or sex.

A hospital spokeswoman said a man in his 50s was in critical condition.

He remained in a critical condition on Sunday.

As well as the critically injured person, two others were hurt and needed medical treatment, the police spokeswoman said.

They wanted to speak to anyone in the area at the time of the crash.

"If you have any information please contact Police on 06-877 0609 quoting job number P040089521. Alternatively, information can be given anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

A pram at the scene of today's incident in Camberley, Hastings. Photo / Paul Taylor

Chavez Farquhar lives on Lowe St and was driving his partner to work about 11am when he was stopped by police near the intersection with Maraekakaho Rd.

"The whole road was shut off and we were told, 'You can't go through'. I saw an ambulance, about four police cars and a group of people gathered on the sidewalk with a couple of police officers."

Additional reporting by Laura Wiltshire