Three people are injured, one seriously, and a main street in Auckland’s CBD is closed after the three-car crash involving a police car early this morning.
Video / NZ Police
An Auckland man has been forced to fight to get Auckland Transport to waive a $150 fine for driving in a bus lane despite police telling him to do so.
Police were redirecting traffic in Auckland’s downtown area after a three-vehicle crash involving a police car that left threepeople injured and resulted in the closure of Victoria St West.
Motorist Rahul, who was driving to work on the morning of the incident, said he received a fine from Auckland Transport because police had redirected him down a bus lane during rush hour.
“It was early in the morning and I was going from Victoria St East on to Queen St,” Rahul said, “and what I actually wanted to do was go straight, so that I can get to Crown Plaza and park at the carpark there and there’s a police officer there blocking it off due to the crash.
“So, I went up and he pointed to go to on Queen St and [I] actually rolled down the window and asked him, ‘do I have to go all the way down?’ He said, ‘Yes’.
“So, I couldn’t go left, I could only turn right to go down further on Queen St.”
A three-vehicle crash on Victoria St West led to police diverting traffic down Queen St.
Rahul said because of this, he had to drive in a bus lane and was subsequently issued a $150 fine by Auckland Transport (AT).
He said the whole process of trying to overturn the fine has been “frustrating” as AT told him there had been a spike in fines on September 25.
Rahul also claimed he had done what AT asked of him by providing a police incident number when disputing the fine, but they rejected the dispute and “didn’t really give [him] clear reasons”.
Police advised motorists to take alternative routes after an early-morning crash on Victoria St West on September 25.
But after questions from the Herald, anAT spokesperson said they would now reverse the initial decision to uphold the fine.
“We have reviewed the footage and while the driver had the opportunity to turn down Shortland St, given the circumstances we will waive the fine.”
The spokesperson said they would consider further appeals from any other motorists who were impacted by the detour.
“If they appeal their fine, then we will consider their circumstances.”
Rahul told the Herald he was pleased with the decision by AT.
“It would have been much better if they had taken this approach from the beginning, rather than issuing fines and refusing to consider legitimate reasons and causing unnecessary stress.”
Emergency services were called to the crash scene on Victoria St West, near the intersection of Albert St, about 5.40am on September 25.
A large cordon was in place around the blocks close to the Sky Tower and police advised motorists to use alternate routes as road closures were in place for some time.
