Welcome Bay: Witnesses describe ‘huge’, ‘out-of-control’ party where teen hit by car

Police at the scene on Kaitemako Rd after a vehicle hit a teenage girl in Welcome Bay on Saturday. Photo / Cameron Avery

A “huge” party in Tauranga that left a 14-year-old girl in hospital is being described as out of the ordinary for the street.

Emergency services were called to Kaitemako Rd, near Waipuna Park in Welcome Bay, on Saturday night after the teen was hit by a car.

She was taken to Starship children’s hospital in serious condition.

A witness, who spoke on the condition they were not named, said they saw the incident unfold.

They said the girl was crossing the road from the Waipuna Park side when the collision happened.

“I heard the car screech, then hit something,” they told NZME.

“The girl was on the ground unconscious.”

The witness said the party was “huge”, with 200 or more teenagers and “underaged kids” shoulder-to-shoulder.

Another eyewitness has described the party as “large and out-of-control”.

They said there were multiple fights breaking out while police tried to contain the scene.

Emergency services were called to Kaitemako Rd about 11.30pm on Saturday after a 14-year-old girl was hit by a car. Photo / Cameron Avery

A nearby resident said the street was littered with broken glass and alcohol cans the next day.

They said Kaitemako Rd was “relatively quiet” and they had not seen a party of that size in more than 10 years.

Police previously said the incident occurred outside an address where there was a large party involving young people.

“Some of these became aggressive to police and ambulance staff who were trying to assist the injured teenager.”

District deployment co-ordinator Senior Sergeant Roger Schreuder said this was extremely disappointing behaviour.

Police confirmed today that people were taken into custody at the scene.

“Inquiries continue and once concluded charges are likely.”

The incident happened in the same suburb where an out-of-control private Halloween party led to brawling in Victory St last year.

Terrified neighbours called police to break up the gathering of hundreds of teenagers.

A resident later said there had been multiple instances of “fights, drinking and vandalism” in the street before the brawl.

Bijou Johnson is a multimedia journalist based in the Bay of Plenty. A passionate writer and reader, she grew up in Tauranga and developed a love for journalism while exploring various disciplines at university. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies from Massey University.