Rotorua crash: Car smashes into Pukuatua St storefront, driver not badly hurt

A car has crashed into a storefront this afternoon on Pukuatua St in Rotorua.

A driver has escaped serious injury after his car crashed into an empty Rotorua storefront on Tuesday afternoon.

Hato Hone St John said the crash on Pukuatua St was reported about 3.20pm and one person was assessed at the scene but not taken to hospital.

Police said it was reported at 3.30pm and one person had minor injuries. No one had been arrested and it was not a ram raid.

At the scene, glass at the front of the building was smashed and a small blue car was inside the empty store.

A family friend of the driver who was at the scene told the Rotorua Daily Post the elderly driver was happy no one had been harmed but was concerned about the damage to the building and his car.

”And we are happy that he’s not been harmed because he is taonga,” the friend said.

Paul, owner of neighbouring shop Crystal House, said he heard a “weird noise” but did not think anything of it until he saw people gathering around to have a look.

”I just thought it was a normal accident,” he said.

Fire and Emergency also had one crew at the scene.

Police were called to the crash on Pukuatua St. Photo / Maryana Garcia