Woman loses leg in clash

AT THE SCENE: Police officers look over an abandoned car that was involved in a collision that seriously injured a woman. PHOTO/ANDREW BONALLACK

A 56-year-old woman has lost her leg after she was crushed between two cars in a gang-related clash in Masterton on March 29.

A confrontation between rival gangs, Black Power and the Mongrel Mob, broke out around 5pm at a Miriam St house. Members of the public called police, who arrived to find the woman seriously injured and about 20 people on the street, some of them gang members.

Wairarapa Police acting area commander Mike Sutton said the woman had been in one of the vehicles involved, but had gotten out of the car.

Another car collided with the one she had been in, trapping her.

She was flown to Wellington Hospital by Life Flight where she was reported to be in a stable condition.

"As a result of the injury, she has lost her leg," he said.

The woman was with a group associated with Black Power who drove to the Miriam St house occupied by a group connected to the Mongrel Mob.

Mr Sutton said the investigation was making good progress and an arrest was made on Thursday.

"We are working with those involved, identifying what took place, identifying the people involved."

He said police were making sure there were no further confrontations or retaliation.

Extra resources, including police from Wellington, had been put on the investigation to help calm the situation, he said.

Police are still seeking a male driver, linked to the Miriam St house, who was driving one of the cars but fled the scene.

Anyone with information can contact the Wairarapa Police on 06 370 0300.

Alternatively, information can be passed on anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.