Car crashes into Hamilton house: Witness says driver was attacked by angry locals

Police are investigating after a car crashed into a Fairfield, Hamilton property before the driver was allegedly assaulted. Photo / Malisha Kumar

A Hamilton resident has told of their shock after an incident last week during which the driver of a car crashed into a neighbouring house, injuring a person, and was then allegedly set upon by angry locals.

Emergency services were called to Marshall St in Fairfield about 8.30pm on Thursday.

A street resident, who wished to stay anonymous, said they heard what was going on before they witnessed the altercation from their window.

“I heard a car engine rev and then saw the headlights on our ceiling coming in from the road.

“I heard it crash ... then someone scream. By then, I had already opened the door because I was worried someone had hit my car and to see what was going on.

“Our neighbour next to us said, ‘some guy just crashed through that fence and hit someone’.

“A few of the surrounding neighbours were already outside, on the phone to 111 and helping the lady who had been hit.

“My family member was here from Wellington visiting and he ran out to move his car, which was parked in the driveway ... he noticed it had been hit too.

“I went upstairs to check on my kids and saw from my window that some [people] were beating the driver up.

“This altercation went on from the crash scene to just a couple of houses down the road.

The resident said they weren’t able to see anything else as they were trying to stop their kids from looking out the window.

“The driver is really lucky no kids were outside at the time the accident happened.

“Being the school holidays, there are always kids in and out of each other’s houses, playing on bikes n scooters and playing basketball.

“It was a blessing no one else was hurt.”

They said they weren’t worried for their safety, but they were “in shock”.

“Fairfield always has something going on, but [I] never thought it would happen this close to our house. I was just thankful he didn’t crash into our house.”

Police said they were notified of a car hitting a house about 8.30pm on July 10, “causing one occupant of the house to receive critical injuries”.

“Following the crash, there was an altercation between the driver and surrounding neighbours.

“The driver of the vehicle received critical injuries during the assault and was transported to hospital, where they remain in a serious condition.”

No charges had been laid.

Police said yesterday, there were “no updates for release at this stage”.

“The investigation is ongoing.”

Hato Hone St John said they were notified at 8.29pm and sent two ambulances and three rapid response vehicles.

“Two patients were assessed at the scene, with both transported to Waikato Hospital in a critical condition.”

Fire and Emergency New Zealand said they responded at 8.26pm.

“Four crews from Hamilton and Chartwell attended and were at the scene for just over an hour.”

Danielle Zollickhofer is the Waikato news director and a multimedia journalist at the Waikato Herald. She joined NZME in 2021 and is based in Hamilton.