A witness has described seeing shocked and crying children emerging from a stolen car that crashed following a police chase in the Auckland suburb of Mt Roskill.
The damaged house at Mt Roskill. Photo: RNZ / Rowan Quinn
Police said the car was driven by a 17-year-old and had six younger teens and children in it when it flipped several times and crashed into a house about 1am today.
The youngest child was 10, and police said two were in the boot.
The bathroom of the house was severely damaged. Photo: RNZ / Rowan Quinn
A man living at the house said he woke to a loud bang and came out to see police helping the children out of the car.
He said they looked very young and some were crying and had cuts and bruises, and he could not believe none were more seriously hurt.
The bathroom of the house was severely damaged.
Police said the car sped away from officers early this morning, going up to 140 km/h in a 50 km/h area.
Shortly afterwards the vehicle went out of control, rolled, hit two parked cars and damaged the house as it came to rest in a driveway.
Inspector Cornell Klussein said those in the vehicle were lucky to get away with only minor injures and the growing number of young people involved in pursuits and car crashes was alarming.
He said they are seeing more and more young people aged 13 or 14 in stolen cars, involved in such incidents.
Inspector Cornell Klussein said a 17 year old will face charges over the incident.
