Crashes keep services busy

Two people were seriously injured, a nurse allegedly assaulted and a pharmacy door smashed in by a car amid a series of crashes in Manawatu¯ and Horowhenua in the weekend.

A driver assaulted officers and a nurse after he was injured when he lost control on State Highway 57 just south of Shannon on Saturday night, police said.

‘‘He refused help from ambulance, locked himself in the vehicle and refused to open the door for police,’’ a police spokeswoman said.

‘‘He was taken to A and E, where he’s caused them no end of trouble, assaulted a nurse – he kicked her – and there’s been a scuffle with police.’’

The 47-year-old Levin man had moderate injuries.

Hours earlier, three other people were injured in two crashes just outside Shannon.

A man was seriously injured in a three-car crash about 8.40pm. He was taken to Palmerston North Hospital.

While emergency services were working at that scene, another car crashed into a ditch nearby on the Foxton Shannon Rd.

As if a series of crashes were not enough for emergency services, they also rushed to the scene of a serious rugby injury in Feilding. A high school rugby player was flown to Burwood Hospital in Christchurch yesterday.

And there was a manhunt at Himatangi Beach after a knife attack. Initially, residents were told to stay inside, as the armed offenders squad was sent to the community yesterday morning.

The man with the knife was still on the loose last night.

On Saturday, one person was seriously injured in a two-car crash that closed SH56 just south of Palmerston North at Longburn, shortly after 1pm. ‘‘Two people were trapped, a person in each car, and one car was on its roof,’’ she said.

Emergency services were able to get everyone out of the cars and two people were taken to hospital.

Yesterday morning a car crashed into a Palmerston North medical centre.

The car smashed into the front doors of Total Healthcare at the intersection of Vogel and Tyne streets, caving them in.