Witnesses have described a chaotic scene after three people were injured during a “mass disorder” incident in Auckland’s Ponsonby last night.
Police said officers were called to the trouble around 10.20pm.
Inspector Jason Homan said the incident began on Ponsonby Rd, continued along Anglesea St and ended on Heke St.
“A man has got into a vehicle and allegedly hit three people with it, before the vehicle came to a stop after crashing into a pole.”
He said one person received moderate to serious injuries, while two people have been discharged from hospital after receiving moderate injuries. One man was arrested.
Three people were injured after a car struck people before hitting a power pole.
The fighting unfolded outside bars, where a woman was holding her 21st birthday at one of the venues. The woman whose birthday it was told 1News one her friends accidentally hit people with their car as he tried to flee the violence.
Ahu Bar owner Nikki Ahern also described the scene near her Ponsonby Rd bar last night as staff told her about a party which had apparently gotten out of hand.
Police say a 24-year-old man allegedly hit three people with a vehicle before it crashed into a pole.
“I’ve been informed was there was a 21st and they had vacated onto Ponsonby Rd.
“My staff member followed them down and the police were called,” she said.
Eyewitnesses later described a chaotic scene in the area.
One witness to the incident said they heard a series of bangs, at least five. They watched as a chaotic scene unfolded, including a man yelling “you’re a murderer”.
Meanwhile, another witness, local resident Michael Li said he heard screaming and crying from outside his home on Heke St last night.
He said he did not witness an alleged vehicle collision from his vantage point, but watched as multiple people attempted to punch their way into a locked car.
“I think it lasted about one hour,” he said. “This is the first time over the two years I’ve lived here that I’ve seen so much chaos at night.”
Footage taken by 1News shows a car in the middle of a street with visible damage to its windscreen. Other eyewitness videos show a chaotic scene at multiple locations.
Police said it did not have any information to suggest a gun was involved in the incident at this stage.
“Inquiries remain ongoing to determine exactly what occurred.”
A 24-year-old man was arrested at the scene “without incident”, he said.
The man is due to appear in the Auckland District Court on Friday on three charges of injuring with intent to injure.
The serious crash has carried out a scene examination.
“Further inquiries are ongoing,” Homan said.
