A motorist was injured when two vehicles collided, sending one crashing into a hair salon, on a busy east Auckland road.
A Counties Manukau Police spokesperson says the crash happened near the intersection of Gossamer Drive and Ussher Place in Pakuranga just after 7am on March 18.
One of the vehicles crashed into DaVinci Hair Design, at a block of shops which also includes an Indian restaurant and a dairy.
The crash left a hole in the side of the hair salon, with the vehicle wedged between the business and a large tree in front of it.
Emergency services responded to the incident.
Police say the driver of one of the vehicles was taken to Middlemore Hospital and was reported to be in a critical condition.
“There were no reports of any occupant in the second vehicle sustaining serious injuries,” the spokesperson says.
A section of Gossamer Road between the intersections with Portadown Avenue and Larne Avenue was closed while police and members of the serious crash investigation unit examined the scene.
Debris from the collision littered the footpath and road when the Times visited the scene.
One of the damaged vehicles, a Toyota Corolla sedan, was placed onto a tow truck in Ussher Place.
Cordons were still in place in Gossamer Drive at 11.30am on Thursday.
“The serious crash unit is still examining the scene, with an investigation into the circumstances to follow,” the spokesperson says.
Motorists were advised to avoid the area following the crash, which drew numerous comments on social media about the effect the resulting gridlock had on people’s morning commutes.
Several people trying to get from east Auckland to the city centre say they gave up.
Later that morning police were called to a serious crash involving a passenger bus and a small truck in Flat Bush.
Police say the two vehicles collided at the intersection of Ormiston Road and Murphys Road just before 11am.
“The truck driver involved has sustained serious injuries and is being transported to Middlemore Hospital.
“There were a small number of passengers aboard the bus at the time of the crash.
“We are aware that a small number of passengers have sustained minor injuries and they are being assessed at the scene.”
The serious crash investigation unit and the police’s commercial vehicle safety team were notified of the crash.
Auckland Transport spokesman Mark Hannan told the Times the bus involved in the incident was operating a service for AT Metro at the time.
“There were 10 passengers on board and one was taken to hospital.
“The bus driver was injured and is being supported by the bus operator.”
