Hawke's Bay public praised for stopping erratic driver

A man in his 40s suffered "extensive" head and spinal injuries in a crash on Oak Ave, Hastings. Photo / Victoria White

Citizens who detained a motorist after he was spotted driving dangerously in Hastings have been thanked by police, who say it could have prevented a tragedy.

Amotorist called police for help about 9pm on Sunday after stopping a driver who was reported to be driving erratically on Haumoana Rd. Members of the public held the driver until police arrived.

"Hawke's Bay Police would like to thank members of the public who intervened after witnessing erratic driving," Eastern District deployment co-ordinator Senior Sergeant David Sutherland said.

"The person who was alleged to have been driving erratically was taken into custody and has been processed for drink-driving offences."

Sutherland said members of the public were not encouraged to take matters into their own hands.

"However, in this instance – given the nature of the driving behaviour and the risk to other road users – the action taken helped prevent what could have been another tragedy on our roads."

A 51-year-old man will appear in court.

The other drivers' actions follow recent incidents, often involving tourists,
where motorists have taken action against others' dangerous driving. Meanwhile, investigations were ongoing into crashes over the past few days, which have put two people in Hawke's Bay Hospital.

Police were called to Oak Ave, Hastings, just before 1pm yesterday after a red Honda tried to overtake a ute turning right into Matipou orchards.

Hawke's Bay road policing group sergeant Paul Ormerod said the vehicles collided, shunting the ute into an oak tree. The Honda cameto rest on the other side of the road.

The ute driver, a man in his 40s, had been taken to Hawke's Bay hospital with extensive head and spinal injuries, Ormerod said. He was discharged last night.

A woman in her 30s was also recovering in a stable condition in hospital, after a one-car crash on Waimarama Rd early on Sunday morning.

• If you witness unsafe driving, call police immediately on *555.