Screwdriver attack at car park
A man has managed to fend off a weaponwielding attacker armed with a screwdriver in a brazen daylight onslaught.
The man was sitting in his vehicle at the car park end of the quiet Riverside Drive, off Te Matai Rd, Palmerston North, on Thursday, when the attack happened about 4pm.
The man managed to fend off his male attacker, receiving only minor injuries as he defended himself.
The attacker then fled in a white vehicle driven by a woman.
Police would like to talk to three potential witnesses in the car park at the time. It’s not thought the trio were involved in the frightening incident.
Police also want to talk to the driver of a dark blue Subaru WRX, who was seen with a black dog.
On Saturday, it was crashes keeping emergency services busy.
At 11.10am, Vanita Ranchhod, who was working at her brother’s Four Square in Cloverlea, heard a horrific noise as an out-of-control vehicle scraped the side of the shop.
According to witnesses, the car came down the hill on Gillespies Line, and crossed through the Tremaine Ave roundabout. It then swerved on to the footpath outside the Beer Barrel and took out the roundabout sign.
The car carried the sign right across the road, scraped across the Four Square wall and smashed into a pay phone.
A police spokeswoman said one person was taken to Palmerston North Hospital with minor injuries.
Later, emergency services were called to the Masterton Rd stretch of State Highway 2 after a car flipped on its side, between Sturdee and Priest roads, at 3.50pm.
A police spokesman said two people were injured in the crash, one with moderate injuries and another with minor injuries. They were both taken to Palmerston North Hospital.
Anyone with information about the screwdriver attack can contact Palmerston North Police Station on 06 351 3600, or can provide information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.