A man has been charged in relation to a fatal crash where one person was killed and another critically injured following an alleged fleeing driver incident in Auckland yesterday.
The incident occurred shortly before 2pm when police observed a car speeding along Vestey Dr in Penrose.
Moments later, the vehicle crossed the centreline and crashed into two other vehicles near the intersection of Great South Rd and Southdown Lane.
A passenger from one of the vehicles was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver of the vehicle remained in a critical condition.
The driver of the speeding vehicle was taken to hospital in a critical condition that has since stabilised, police said.
Detective Inspector Kevan Verry said police acknowledged the tragic outcome of yesterday’s events and their thoughts were with those involved.
“We are providing support to those affected and their families, as well as our staff who were impacted.”
A 22-year-old man would be appearing in the Manukau District Court on Friday charged with reckless driving causing death and reckless driving causing injury.
Several police investigations were now underway, including a critical incident investigation and a policy, practice and procedure investigation.
The Independent Police Conduct Authority has also been notified.
Victim was Filipino father-of-three
Filipino community leader Dennis Magcalas told 1News the man who was killed was Jessan Tampus — a tradesman and father of three who had been living in New Zealand for seven years.
Tampus, from Cebu City, had been sending money back home to the Philippines in the hopes his family could come and join him.
“They are devastated because they’re expecting that their dad can give them a good life.
“It’s hard to believe it. It’s very sad what happened to our community.”
Magcalas said funds would be raised to repatriate Tampus’ body back to his family.
“Hopefully, by the help of our embassy, the help of our community, we will raise funds to bring the body.”
Another Filipino man in the car with Tampus was critically injured and Magcalas had been visiting him in hospital.
“At present, he’s in the ICU.”
Crash scene was ‘catastrophic’ — witness
Robby, a sales manager at a local car dealership, was rearranging vehicles on nearby lot when he heard a “loud, fast car approaching”. He believed the vehicle was travelling at 80km/h to 100km/h “at least”.
“And all of a sudden, we heard sirens as well. And then next thing you know is a loud bang.”
Robby said the sound of the crash was so loud that people at the dealership thought it was coming from the BOC gas property across the street.
Along with other staff members, Robby ran to the front of the dealership to see what was happening.
They were met with the “catastrophic” sight of three cars mangled on the road.
He said police were already onthe scene before anyone else had a chance to run to the wrecked vehicles.
Firefighters arrived and used hydraulic Jaws of Life to prise apart the wreckage and free the vehicle’s occupants.
