A man wearing a balaclava was arrested after crashing into a traffic control vehicle in Papakura following a high-speed drive across Auckland. Video / Hayden Woodward
A man has been arrested after allegedly assaulting a police officer, fleeing at high speed across Auckland and then crashing into a road maintenance vehicle.
Waitematā West area prevention manager, Inspector Kelly Farrant, said the overnight drama began around 10pm in Massey.
She said target="_blank">police were speaking to the driver of a vehicle near Royal Rd when they spotted what appeared to be drug utensils on the passenger seat.
“The driver has then assaulted a police officer and failed to remain, leaving the area at speed towards Avondale.”
A Herald photographer who witnessed the fleeing driver pass under Hill Rd in Manurewa said the vehicle had its lights turned off as it sped under the overbridge along State Highway 1. The front wheels had been successfully spiked and the man was driving on rims.
The police Eagle helicopter was monitoring from above, and police vehicles were following from a distance although were not pursuing the car at that stage, he said.
The car's wheels were spiked but it was seen speeding from Manurewa on rims before crashing in Papakura. Photo / Hayden Woodward
A witness who lived near the Beach Rd off-ramp in Papakura said the vehicle came off the off-ramp where it crashed.
“The man jumped out of the vehicle and attempted to carjack the road workers’ vehicles - he was off his head.”
Road workers told the Herald the man had tried to take their ute but was quickly arrested.
The road workers' ute was damaged in the crash but no workers were hurt. Photo / Hayden Woodward
No workers were injured, but their ute was damaged, and tow trucks were in attendance towing the damaged vehicles.
Police recovered several items from the vehicle and placed them in forensic bags, including a balaclava the man was wearing.
Police recovered several items from the car including a balaclava the man was wearing. Photo / Hayden Woodward
