Fleeing car smashes through three properties
A Hastings resident is reeling after a high-speed police chase ended in her garden, causing extensive damage.
During the early hours of Saturday, Irene McLaren woke to what she thought was a bomb going off.
Instead, a car had crashed through three properties on Oliphant Rd, before coming to a stop in hers, she said. It left a pile of debris behind, including scattered fence palings.
Police and a dog squad arrived shortly afterwards.
McLaren said two men were stopped at nearby Ebbett Park and one hid in a house three doors down.
The side of her house copped some damage, which should be covered by her insurance.
However her uninsured $7500 caravan had been written off.
McLaren said she had spent a year renovating it and only had a top coat of paint to go.
“The caravan spun around. From the impact, it split everything from the frame and it can’t be replaced.
“We got most of the damage. It was quite dramatic and is still crazy to believe.”
She had recently had part of her silver birch tree chopped down and believes if that had not happened, the outcome could have been a lot more serious. “I’m just glad there were no bodies left lying around.”
Inspector Matthew Broderick said two officers tried to stop a speeding vehicle about 1.15am on Saturday.
“The vehicle failed to stop and crashed into a fence.”
Broderick said two occupants were injured and taken to hospital and a third person was being sought.
“The pursuit lasted less than a minute and based on the information available to me, proper procedure was followed.” Concerned residents were encouraged to contact police.