Van crashes into West Auckland childcare centre, injures one

A West Auckland childcare centre damaged when a van crashed through it last night – injuring one – will be open as normal on Monday, its director says.

And to make sure there was never a repeat, bollards or rocks would be installed to keep kids safe, Junior Junction Child Care Kumeū director Greg Parker said.

“The damage was primarily to the reception area of the childcare and the interior wall of one room,” Parker wrote in an email to parents, which he also sent to the Herald.

“Luckily no one was on site and the driver was being treated for injuries at hospital.”

The childcare centre would be open as normal on Monday morning and repairs should be completed in one or two weeks, he wrote.

“Our playground is fully secure and we are lucky that we can utilise another room to care for our preschool children.

“To ensure there is zero risk of this ever happening again, we are installing a number of traffic calming devices (bollards or rocks) along the road.”

Debris was scattered inside and outside, including by a children's swing set, after a van smashed into Junior Junction Child Care Kumeū in West Auckland. Photo / Hayden Woodward

Photos taken soon after the 9pm crash showed a black van almost entirely inside the building, surrounded by timber snapped like matchsticks.

Scattered debris could also be seen near children’s swings.

Police, Fire and Emergency and Hato Hone St John crews helped at the crash scene last night. Photo / Hayden Woodward

A Hato Hone St John spokeswoman said they sent an ambulance and a rapid response unit to the scene, and one person was taken to North Shore Hospital in a moderate condition.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand crews were also at the scene.

The van crashed through Junior Junction Child Care Kumeū about 9pm on Friday. Photo / Hayden Woodward