Dead teen driver was runaway, CYF reveals

The scene of the fatal crash. Photo / NZPA

The 13-year-old boy killed when he drove into a South Auckland fence yesterday had been hidden from authorities by his family after running away from a caregiver's home.

Manurewa teenager Isaiah Nathan died just after 7am yesterday when a silver Subaru police believe he was driving ploughed through several fences at high speed and came to a stop after hitting a "substantial" fence on Fairlight Pl.

Four passengers, some injured, ran from the scene following the crash, but were later found by police.

Witnesses said the car, which caused damage along a 100m stretch, was travelling at about 100km/h when it crashed.

Child, Youth and Family general manager operations Marama Wiki said yesterday Isaiah had been in CYF custody since April last year, and had "absconded" from a caregiver's Kaitaia home on September 20 this year.

"A missing person report was filed with the police the same day," she said.

"Our staff have since made contact with several members of this young man's family a number of times in an effort to seek their help in finding him.

"An extended family member has today told Child, Youth and Family the young man was being hidden by his family for at least some of this time."

It is understood that CYF has been involved in the care of a female passenger involved in the crash, but she was not in its custody.

Fairlight Pl resident Stephanie Brown, 17, said the scene of the crash was "unbelievable".

"It was just a normal morning, and then all I could hear was this terrible screeching noise," she said.

"I can't describe what it sounded like ... I just knew something was going wrong. I went running outside and saw the car turn around."

Ms Brown ran to the car, which had the ignition barrel pulled out, and said the four passengers were all in shock.

She said Isaiah was in the driver's seat.

"When they drove through the fence they pulled out all the wire and fence posts; they must have gone through the windscreen and got the driver in the face.

"A girl was trying to get the driver out. She said 'can you please help, can you help me get him out'.

"She tried to get the front seat passenger out. He was really confused, he didn't know what was going on. He was trying to get out but he couldn't because the fence was blocking the door.

"He had to climb out over the fence and then he started smashing up the fence because he was angry. He was drenched in blood, the driver's I think, his arm looked broken."

Ms Brown said another passenger tried to calm him down.

"Then they just took off. The girl was screaming at them, 'we can't leave him, we can't just leave him behind'.

"Then she went back to the driver, opened the door, hugged him and said goodbye and ran off after the others."

Ms Brown said police arrived moments later and covered the wrecked car with a tarpaulin.

"We knew the driver was dead. He wasn't moving, wasn't doing anything.

"It's really sad, they looked so young. They all had bare feet. I couldn't believe what I saw."

Police were still investigating the crash yesterday, but Constable Nicholas Cockerell said the four passengers would not be charged.

The Subaru was registered to a Hamilton car yard.