Police try to piece together Hawke’s Bay assaults jigsaw: Multiple calls, one person fighting for life, another in hospital, one car stolen

Police examining the scene of an overnight assault on Holmes Pl. Photo / NZME

One person has been critically injured and another seriously injured in overnight assaults in Hawke’s Bay that police say could be linked.

Inspector Lincoln Sycamore, Hawke’s Bay Area Commander, said a scene examination was taking place on Wednesday morning at Holmes Pl in Flaxmere after they were called to a property at 1.40am.

Multiple calls were received about fighting and disorder, but when police arrived there was just one person left at the house.

They advised that the victim had “been taken to hospital by someone else”, and that the offenders had stolen a car from the address and fled, Sycamore said.

“Police have then gone to the hospital and discovered the victim from Holmes Place was admitted in critical condition.”

Sycamore said a second victim, a man, was also at the hospital in serious condition.

It appeared he had been assaulted “at a different location to Holmes Pl”.

Sycamore said police were exploring potential links between the two assaults.