Crashbetween fire truck and car
A collision between a fire truck and a car blocked a busy central Auckland intersection on Tuesday morning.
The accident occurred at the intersection of Sandringham and Balmoral Roads at around 10am.
Fire Service assistant area manager Roger Callister said the Mt Roskill fire crew had been heading to a fire alarm down the road.
‘‘They were responding under lights and siren,’’ he said.
Callister said the fire appliance had been ‘‘crawling’’ through the intersection and had ‘‘virtually come to a stop’’ at the time of the crash.
The driver of the car was checked over by St John ambulance staff but was uninjured.
Callister said the fire crew - an officer and three firefighters - were uninjured but shaken by the events.
Traffic lights at the intersection were turned off so police could divert the motorists away from the scene.
The car was seriously damaged and required a tow truck to remove it.
The fire truck sustained scrapes to its front left corner.
The fire appliance would need to be assessed by a mechanic before it would be allowed back on the road, Callister said.
Traffic was affected in all four directions and motorists were advised to avoid the area.