'Big bang' as car ploughs into bus shelter

A Waimauku resident woke to a bang and a scream as a car crashed in her driveway. Photo / Supplied by Helen Liese

A young woman was taken to hospital with serious injuries after surviving a dramatic car crash north of Auckland early yesterday morning.

Helen Liese of Waimauku said she was woken by a "big bang" about 5am and went outside to find a badly damaged car in her driveway.

She said marks on the road suggested the car had hit a bus shelter and taken out a retaining wall before travelling backwards towards her home, ending up inches from her car.

"I heard a woman screaming and I thought someone was having an argument.

"When I got outside I could see the mess. It had taken out the retaining wall.

"You could see the corrugated iron from the bus stop imprinted into the side of the car."

After calling emergency services she tried to comfort a distressed passenger.

A female passenger was taken to Auckland Hospital with serious injuries after being cut from the car.

Two other occupants, one male and one female, sustained minor injuries.

The Waitemata Police serious crash unit is investigating.