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Witness describes 'worst experience' after special needs van crash

Author
Newstalk ZB, NZ Herald Staff,
Publish Date
Tue, 17 Oct 2017, 12:51PM
A special needs van crashed and rolled into a paddock on Waiuku Road this morning shortly after 8am.
A special needs van crashed and rolled into a paddock on Waiuku Road this morning shortly after 8am.

Witness describes 'worst experience' after special needs van crash

Author
Newstalk ZB, NZ Herald Staff,
Publish Date
Tue, 17 Oct 2017, 12:51PM

A witness to a van crash in Pukekohe that seriously injured a six-year-old boy describes it as the "worst experience" she has seen and heard.

A special needs van crashed and rolled into a paddock on Waiuku Road this morning shortly after 8am.

Five people have serious to moderate injuries, including the young boy, two 18-year-old females and a 21 and 69-year-old man.

Police and St John Ambulance crews rushed to Waiuku Rd near Waller Rd in Pukekohe after being notified of the crash shortly before 8am.

A rescue helicopter was needed to transfer some of the injured to hospital.

Jean Jones said she heard a crash from outside, and saw the animals in the field neighbouring her house run away from the road.

By the time she went outside several vehicles were surrounding the van and the passengers were out of the vehicle.

"Hearing the children crying was quite disturbing," she said.

Jones said a police officer told her the van was carrying children from a special needs facility. The officer also believed the driver suffered a heart attack.

It was a fairly common spot for crashes, she said, despite it being a fairly straight stretch of road.

The road was now closed off and police were examining the scene.

Jones said the typically busy road was "eerily quiet".

Inspector Shawn Rutene said bystanders helped pull people from the wreckage of the van after it rolled.

"Police are very grateful to several members of the pubic who were first on the scene and managed to pull children from the wreckage," he said.

One person was flown by helicopter to Auckland's Middlemore Hospital in a serious condition. Others were taken by ambulance.

Waiuku Rd is closed between Bald Hill Rd and Tramway Rd and diversions are in place. A police spokesman said the road would be blocked until about 11.30am while officers work to establish how the crash occurred.

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