The scene of the crash last night. Photo / Bradley Ambrose
A police officer lost control of his car during a high-speed pursuit in West Auckland last night, putting his civilian passenger in hospital with whiplash.
The two officers in the front of the car were unhurt in the accident, which happened on the corner of Sabulite and St
Leonard's roads in Kelston, soon after 9.30pm.
"I heard the sirens going, then the bang. I could hear they were chasing someone," said a woman who lived near the scene of the accident and was the first to arrive and help. When she emerged, she saw "just the police car and a lot of smoke".
"I'm not a panelbeater or a mechanic, but the car looked pretty broken to me. I'd say they'll be doing paperwork until the wee small hours."
Senior sergeant Niki Seager confirmed that an observer riding with two police officers needed hospital treatment for whiplash. It was thought the back-seat passenger might be someone interested in joining the police.
She said that the car the police officers were chasing got away. "During the pursuit of the vehicle, they lost control on the corner and struck a pole."
The roads have judder bars along the entire length, intended to slow traffic. However, eyewitnesses said, the engines of both cars were revving loudly as the vehicles came into the corner. Another eyewitness said the corner was notorious for crashes, and last night's barely raised an eyebrow until locals realised it was a police car. "The crash, the bang, the crunch - nothing more than the usual. It's nothing new to us."
