Serious crash closes 3rd Ave and Cameron Rd intersection in Tauranga

Police were called to the intersection of 3rd Ave and Cameron Rd after a single-vehicle crash this morning.

The crash happened about 10.45am.

One person has received serious injuries, police said in a statement.

The road may be blocked while emergency services are in attendance.

Constable Mike Lewis said an elderly male reversed into a car park, then continued into the building.

The man suffered moderate to serious head injuries.

A parked vehicle was also damaged and was removed from the scene.

A man who works on 3rd Ave said people heard a “big bang”.

“I thought the driver put his foot on the accelerator instead of the brake.”

He said the car went backwards into the building.

The worker had heard the driver suffered a medical event while in the vehicle.

He had been told the man was “thrown out of the vehicle”.

“There was blood everywhere.“

A reporter at the scene said internal walls looked unscathed and the building was not being evacuated.

Some people who were working in the building didn’t feel the crash, however, other workers on higher floors did, with one saying it felt like a “bomb had gone off”.

A photographer at the scene said people in the upper floors of the building felt the car hit.

Two police units responded at 10.45am.

Hato Hone St John also attended.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand northern fire communications shift manager Josh Pennefather said fire crews arrived at the scene at 10.48am and assisted one person.

Pennefather said the person was not trapped, but they required assistance to exit the vehicle.

More to come ...