Police car rear ended in fatal, multi-vehicle crash

The scene after the crash in Albany today. Photo / Barry Murphy

An elderly male motorist is dead and three others received minor to moderate injuries after an eight-vehicle pile-up, including a police patrol car, on Auckland's North Shore this afternoon.

Police said the man died when his car was hit by an out-of-control Jeep Cherokee at the intersections of Rosedale and Bush Roads in Albany just before 1pm.

Seconds before the Cherokee had rear-ended a police patrol car with damage caused to six other cars.

North Shore police area commander Inspector Les Paterson said the police car had been travelling to a "priority one" incident and had slowed to a virtual stop as it approached the intersection in the centre lane.

As the police vehicle waited behind other cars at a red light, the officers observed a Jeep Cherokee was travelling behind them in the same direction at "considerable speed".

They tried to take evasive action by slipping between lanes.

"The Cherokee then collided with the rear of the police car causing it to jettison forward over 50 metres," Mr Paterson said

The Cherokee then flipped as it crossed the centre line and struck an oncoming car being driven by the elderly man.

The driver of Cherokee was taken to North Shore Hospital with moderate injuries.

The two police officers were shaken but not seriously hurt.

None of the occupants of the other cars was hurt.

The crash closed down the intersection and traffic was diverted.

Investigations into the exact cause of the accident were continuing tonight.

- NZPA