stolen vehicle crash in Counties Manukau District, 4:00am

Stolen vehicle explodes after crash.

Counties Manukau Serious Crash Unit are investigating a crash involving a stolen grey Nissan Skyline on Kirkbride Road Mangere this morning.

At about 1.25a.m. the vehicle, being driven by a 16 year old youth, collided with a pole before striking concrete bus shelter and bursting into flames.

The Police helicopter, Eagle was overhead and a Police patrol was quickly on the scene. The driver managed to alight from the burning car but the passenger had to be physically assisted from the car by Police.

Both occupants were taken to Middlemore Hospital for assessment. Neither received life threatening injuries and one person was released a short time later.

Initial assessment at the scene indicates that the vehicle's fuel line or tank has ruptured causing fuel to leak which has then ingnited shortly after impact.

Senior Sergeant Symonds, the Officer in charge of the scene, believes that both people in the car are lucky to be alive. If it had not been for the quick response and actions by the attending officers it is very likely Police would have been dealing with a very serious injury crash and probably a fatality.