Saturday, 14 April 2007 - 2:32pm |
National News

Police Exonerate Van Driver

1 min read

Police investigating a serious collision on the North Western motorway say they've spoken with a van driver who was being sought in connection with the incident.

Police say that about 3.00pm on Wednesday 11 April 2007 a white Toyota Corona was travelling city bound on the NW Motorway when it collided with a bridge abutment near the Lincoln Road Off ramp. Two occupants were injured in the crash.

"Initially there was concern that the driver of a Mitsubishi L300 van may have also been involved in the crash, as it was seen to have stopped briefly before leaving the scene," Constable Karl Bevin of the Serious Crash Unit said.

"It now transpires the van driver had to take evasive action to avoid the car."

"The van came to a stop 100 metres further up the motorway. The driver had a three year old child in his vehicle. He was in a real dilemma between providing assistance and leaving his young child in the van."

"In such cases as this Police sometimes have to assume the worst in people, but clearly this was not the case on this occasion. The van driver has at this time been exonerated."

"Enquiries into the cause of the crash are continuing," Mr. Bevin says.

The 8 year old boy remains in Starship hospital and is described as now stable and improving. The driver of the Toyota Corona is recovering from his injuries.

ENDS:

Kevin [Kev] Loughlin

District Communications Manager / Media Advisor

North Shore / Waitakere / Rodney Police District

12-14 Northcroft Street - Takapuna - Auckland

Phone 09 488 9758 - Extn 96308 - Mobile 027 281 0271

Email - kevin.loughlin@police.govt.nz