Charges after car bowls man

The driver of a car which struck a man while doing skids on a west coast beach will face charges.

Police have also impounded the boy racer’s vehicle, believed to be an RX7, while the man struck remains in hospital with head injuries.

Footage of the incident that unfolded on Karioitahi Beach, in Franklin, on Sunday was widely shared on Facebook on Tuesday.

It shows a white car doing skids around another vehicle on the west coast beach, surrounded by people.

Video shows a man in a blue top, carrying a pole, walking towards the vehicle. The RX7 skids around the other racer before striking the man, carrying him on the bonnet for a several metres.

The car then comes to a stop. The man slides off and appears to confront the driver who steps out of the car.

‘‘Police are investigating a serious incident at Karioitahi Beach on Sunday afternoon where a pedestrian on the beach who tried to intervene was struck and flung into the windscreen by a car that was doing extended skids on the sand right in front of the main carpark,’’ Sergeant Dean Borrell of Counties Manukau police said.

Police impounded the vehicle and spoke to several witnesses, he said.

Charges could include assault with a vehicle and dangerous or reckless driving. ‘‘It’s very risky and dangerous behaviour given the number of sunbathers and swimmers around.’’

The middle-aged Waiuku man who was struck is in Middlemore Hospital with head injuries.

Borrell said the man was at the beach with family members when he went to confront the driver.

‘‘Looks like there were a few people who were trying to stop the vehicle.’’

The beach is legally classed as a road, Borrell said, and any vehicles using the beach must have a permit from council.

‘‘Cars skidding in the main carpark and swimming area are highly dangerous to other beach users. There is about 10 kilometres of sand and that behaviour doesn’t need to occur right where everyone is.

‘‘Unfortunately with summer here, any regular users of the beach will know that idiots driving dangerously on the beach and the totally inconsiderate behaviour is a common occurrence.’’

There was little cellphone reception at the west coast location so emergency calls could be delayed, he said.

‘‘All users of the beach need to respect others and be tolerant that people are enjoying a range of diverse activities at the beach, there is enough space for this to continue if everyone uses common sense.

If trouble continued it could likely lead to a ban on vehicles on the beaches.

‘‘I know the offending drivers won’t read this but if you witness such behaviour at the beach, drive to the top of the hill and call 111.’’