A witness has described the aftermath of a police pursuit an incident that has closed a section of Lincoln Rd in West Auckland as “an ugly sight”.
One person has suffered serious injuries after police chase that ended at about 5.15am on Monday.
Chris McKeen/Stuff
Police could be seen removing firearmes from a damaged police dog handler van.
Billy Magele, a West Auckland local, was at a bus stop in Triangle Rd when he was told by a traffic controller a police chase had ended with a car hitting an oncoming vehicle “head on”.
“It was an ugly sight.”
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Chris McKeen/Stuff
The Lincoln Rd off-ramp is closed.
He said from a distance he could see ,”people in the vehicle not moving”.
Rush hour traffic is very heavy in the area.
A Stuff reporter at the scene said three civilian cars had been involved, with one badly damaged with a caved in front right-hand corner and a flat tyre.
A damaged police dog handler van was also on scene and police could be seen removing firearms from it.
The incident began just before 5am in Epsom, according to police, when a person unsuccessfully attempted to steal a vehicle by allegedly pointing a gun at a driver on Gillies Ave.
The person then got into another stolen vehicle and left the area.
“By this time Eagle had responded to the area and located the vehicle, monitoring it travelling to an address on Cedar Heights Ave, Massey,” said a police spokesperson.
Chris McKeen/Stuff
Billy Magele was at a bus stop on Triangle Rd shortly after 5am where he witnessed the crash. The road was almost empty at about 8am, as surrounding streets were closed.
“At the property the offender has attempted to evade the Eagle crew observing from above but instead was allegedly seen getting into another vehicle.
“A pursuit was engaged, and he has allegedly driven this vehicle at speed, entering the motorway network on Royal Road.”
Spikes were successfully deployed on the on-ramp.
The offender has continued to travel at speed and exited the motorway at Lincoln Rd.
At this point he has allegedly driven at two members of the public and attempted to steal their vehicles.
Google images/Supplied
The police chase began in Epsom in central Auckland and ended out west.
Superintendent Naila Hassan said police arrived at the same time and a patrol vehicle has collided with the offender.
“He is being taken to Auckland Hospital with serious injuries and an investigation is now underway into what has occurred.
“I would like to acknowledge our staff who have brought an increasingly volatile situation to a conclusion this morning, without any further harm inflicted on the wider community.”
Police have since located a firearm inside the stolen vehicle the offender had earlier been travelling in from Epsom.
Superintendent Hassan said there will now be several investigations under way into this morning’s incident, including an investigation into the man’s actions.
“Police anticipate charges will be laid against the 37-year-old man, who is under Police guard in hospital,” she says.
“As standard procedure in these instances, we have also notified the Independent Police Conduct Authority.
“I would like to acknowledge the disruption this will bring to motorists’ and their co-operation, with road closures in place around the Lincoln Road area while we conduct our enquiries and clear the scene.”
Police have blocked off the Lincoln Rd off-ramp citybound and westbound on the Northwestern Motorway, in Henderson due to what police said was a traffic incident.
A police spokesperson said Lincoln Rd, Triangle Rd and Central Park Drive were also affected.
Drivers were advised to avoid the area if possible.
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