Woman who stopped to help at the scene of a Hastings stabbing and hit-and-run frustrated at lack of bystander action

A man was stabbed and then further injured in an unrelated hit and run near Stortford Lodge, Hastings. Photo / Google Maps

A Flaxmere woman who stopped to help at the scene of a hit-and-run of a man who had also just been stabbed in Hastings says she was shocked that more bystanders weren’t helping him.

Dallyn Lauvao-Araia was travelling back to Flaxmere with her children after visiting the Z Petrol Station on Heretaunga St West on Monday between 9pm and 9.15pm when she came across the incident.

While she was not the first on the scene, she said she was the first to get out and help, with others later following suit.

“I was wondering why all these cars are there and no one is physically out there checking; they are all just kind of watching.

“It really concerned me because this person is literally dying and you are all just watching and taking off when you have seen enough.

“[To me] that’s so wrong.”

Police were called to the street at 9.30pm on Monday after a crash involving a vehicle and a pedestrian, between the Stortford St and Davis St intersections.

Detective Sergeant Ryan Kemsley said the victim had stab-like wounds from an assault before the crash.

Lauvao-Araia said she could see a man lying in the middle of the road outside The ToolShed building.

“He was flat on the ground at first, not even moving, so I thought he was knocked out or possibly had passed.”

She said a woman who appeared to be his friend or partner was “hysterical” and appeared to be on the phone trying to call the ambulance.

She said she decided to park her car and intervene.

“That’s when I really saw the severity of how hurt he was; he was on his front, and he managed to turn himself onto his side to sit up.

“He could not get up even though he was trying.

“His ear was basically dangling on his shoulder, and when he was rolling around, it revealed he had stab marks under his shoulder blade on his back.”

Lauvao-Araia said she believed the man had stab wounds in his neck and chest area.

She said she spoke to the woman and let her know she could help make the emergency call to relay what was happening to the operator.

“In his critical condition, from what I could assess, I just don’t think I could’ve been any more help to him other than telling him to stay still.

“I think if I tried to physically do anything to him, it could’ve caused more harm.”

The man was loaded into a Hato Hone St John ambulance and taken to hospital in what medics say was a critical condition.

Kemsley said the man was in a stable condition as of 10.15am on Tuesday.

Police said the driver of the vehicle didn’t check on the man and fled the area, travelling towards Maraekakaho Rd.

On Thursday, police were still investigating the incident.

Police wanted to hear from anyone with information, including any CCTV, dashcam, or video footage.

“We are working to determine what has exactly occurred, however, we would like to speak with anyone who has information that can assist in our enquiries.”

Information could be provided online at 105.police.govt.nz, by clicking “Update Report” or calling 105, using the reference number 260331/8124.

Information could also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 0800 555 111.

Michaela Gower joined Hawke’s Bay Today in 2023 and is based out of the Hastings newsroom. She covers Dannevirke and Hawke’s Bay news and loves sharing stories about farming and rural communities.