Debris from a smashed fence strewn over a property in Lyn Grove.
A 54-year-old woman struck by a car during a terrifying street brawl in Papamoa on Sunday night was trying to defend her children, her sons say.
The Horomia brothers said they were targeted by a gang from out of town after they asked a person to stop selling drugs inthe area.
The brothers, 23 and 25, said a crowd of gang members showed up outside their mother's house on Lyn Grove about 8.45pm shouting gang slogans and brandishing baseball bats.
Chuck Horomia said they feared they would be killed and tried to defend themselves by throwing roof tiles.
Their 54-year-old mother tried to break up the brawl and was struck by a car and was thrown five metres and slammed into a fence on her property, the brother told the Bay of Plenty Times.
When their mother was hit Chuck got in a car and tried to run people over in retaliation but they fled, he said.
Yesterday, their mother was recovering in a "comfortable" condition.
Tyre marks can be seen from where a car ploughed through a fence in Lyn Grove during a street brawl on Sunday night. The area is home to where two young boys usually play. Photo / John Borren
The brothers said they were targeted by the gang because they tried to stop drugs being dealt in the area.
"We've got kids here, we don't want that s*** in our street for our kids to grow up on then try to get off," Chuck said.
Amidst the carnage, women huddled with their children and grandchildren inside their homes as police swooped in on the area.
A woman who would only be known as Steph said: "There was just shouting and all these people in the street".
"I was putting my daughter to bed and I heard wailing and screaming and banging.
"We had people walking all through the property with weapons."
Steph said she got her daughter and step-daughter and huddled in a room at the back of their house together while her husband called the police.
"It was pretty bloody scary. It was quite terrifying."
When the woman was hit, Steph ran out to offer first aid and a chair for the woman to sit on while waiting for an ambulance. the 54-year-old woman was recovering in a "comfortable" condition.
A car mowed through this Lyn Grove fence during a street brawl that resulted in a woman being run over. Photo / John Borren
Next door, an elderly woman was looking after her grandchildren, aged 8 and 11, and their dad when members of the brawl carrying baseball bats came banging on their door.
Her daughter, Pritpal, said the family locked themselves away inside, scared and confused. Within moments a car smashed through their fence.
Pritpal was out when the brawl unfolded and panicked when she was unable to get through a police blockade of about 20 cars.
"It was so scary for the kids. They are usually playing there (where the car crashed) at that time but it was a Sunday and there was school the next day so they were inside. We are very lucky."
A few houses down resident Laura O'Flaherty said the noise "didn't sound like your normal burnouts".
"It sounded like people were wailing like they were in distress, so Hannah stood out there."
Hannah, a friend who was staying over, said she was shocked when a car smashed through the 2 metre-high fence and into the deck she was standing on.
"It was total disbelief. I just scrambled back inside, and it was gone. It was driving crazy. It took off down the road, going up the curb."
Another resident, who would not be named, said he was angry that Lyn Grove was getting a bad reputation which he said was unjustified.
Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Turner said inquiries were continuing and anyone who might have information on what happened is encouraged to contact police on 07 5777 4300 or offer anonymous information via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
