At about 3.15am on July 3, 2022, a person sustained serious, “life-changing” injuries in a hit-and-run on a dark east Auckland road.
Despite an extensive police investigation since then the person driving the vehicle at the time has not been identified.
The crash happened on Chapel Road, near the intersection with Baverstock Road in Flat Bush.
The victim, who was heading south, had pulled his Subaru vehicle over and stopped.
He got out of it to retrieve his mobile phone which had fallen under the seat.
A passing vehicle then struck him, leaving him badly injured and his vehicle damaged.
Both of his legs required multiple surgeries as a result of the impact.
The vehicle that struck the victim slowed down following the collision but then left the area.
About a month after the crash, detective senior sergeant Natalie Nelson of Counties Manukau East Police’s criminal investigation branch said the public’s help was being sought in identifying the vehicle of interest.
“Despite extensive enquiries and analysis of CCTV, police have not yet been able to identify the vehicle involved in this incident,” she said.
Police also published CCTV footage of the incident on Facebook and appealed for anyone with information on the hit-and-run to come forward.
The incident was featured on the TV programme Ten 7 Aotearoa in September, 2022.
The Times reported on the incident in November that year.
A statement from a police spokesperson said Chapel Road was not busy at the time and was well-lit when the injured motorist pulled over, believing it to be a safe position to do so.
“While kneeling to retrieve the item [from inside his car] another vehicle travelling down Chapel Road has struck the victim and his vehicle.
“The impact folded the victim’s driver side door right back against the bonnet.
“The suspect vehicle has continued down the road.
“The victim’s shocked partner starts to run after it heading south on Chapel Road, but unfortunately it disappeared before she can get the registration.”
Police said the woman returned to her injured partner, who was lying on the ground, and rendered first aid to him.
She was helped by people from nearby houses. A person phoned emergency services on 111.
The victim was hospitalised for two weeks and had several surgeries to both legs.
He was looking at three months in a wheelchair before he could start learning to walk again using crutches, police said.
“The physical, financial and psychological effect on the victim and his family is huge.
“It’s clear from CCTV footage there may have been other factors on why the driver didn’t stop, but this shouldn’t deter them from coming forward now and letting the victim and his family know why this happened.
“There are images of the suspect vehicle and police are appealing for anyone who recognises it or saw it was damaged after July 3 to get in touch.
“The victim’s vehicle sustained significant damage, so the offending vehicle will have damage too.”
Police said people may know who drove the offender’s vehicle, or worked on it, or had seen it in the Botany area.
The Times recently asked police for an update on the case.
Counties Manukau East Police area investigations manager, detective senior sergeant Dean Batey, says police conducted extensive enquiries into the crash.
The victim suffered extensive injuries in the incident which meant he required medical treatment.
“He is a private individual and we will respect that in terms of the level of detail around the injuries he suffered,” Batey says.
“Ultimately and disappointingly, we couldn’t identify the make, model, or registration of the offending vehicle. It’s meant the case could not progress.
“The incident also occurred very early in the morning, and there were no other vehicles or witnesses nearby at the time.
“Despite the incident being captured on CCTV, the vehicle’s registration details are not visible from footage.”
Batey says police carried out an extensive area canvas at homes and businesses but no additional footage was obtained.
“From reviewing CCTV footage of the incident, it is clear the driver of the offending vehicle slows down and pulls over.
“Given the impact and their actions immediately afterward, they have then made the choice to drive away from the scene.”
Publicising the incident on the Counties Manukau Police Facebook page and on Ten 7 Aotearoa resulted in information being received from the public, Batey says.
“Despite this we had conflicting information on the make and model of the vehicle.
“What we do know is that it is a sedan with four doors.
“Given the extensive damage to the victim’s vehicle, the front left of the offending vehicle will have sustained noticeable damage at the time.
“We would always welcome anyone who might have information to help to contact police.
“There is always the chance that the driver involved has had enough time to reflect on the incident and is ready to do the right thing by coming forward.”
People with information on the incident can provide it online at https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105, using My Report, referencing file number 220703/2421.
Information can also be provided anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
