Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Police pursuit on North Shore

Just after 4am, a loud noise woke us up. It sounded like a jet plane landing in the street outside. I jumped out of bed, peered through the curtains and saw something really LOUD scream past at very high speed. More of a blur than a distinct vehicle. It was headed toward Beach Haven Wharf. 

Seconds later, two police cars roared past, lights flashing. Then a minute or so later several more police cars went past. Then a fire truck. Then a few minutes later, two ambulances.

Something was clearly going on. In the middle of that, I started tweeting about what I was seeing, which wasn't much, but whatever was happening had to go past the house. There's only one way in or out.

Then the police helicopter arrived and began sweeping the area with a big spotlight, focusing mainly on the shoreline from Beach Haven Wharf  around to Shepherds Park. I tried to get some video or pics, but it was too dark.  A car carrying truck went past a while later. 

At 7am I walked down to the bus stop with my daughter, as the police were still looking for someone and it wasn't light yet. I spoke to a guy there who told me the bare bones: a police chase, a car ran off the wharf into the harnbour, a policeman had been run over but was going to be ok, the driver was arrested and the police were looking for his mates.

They were still looking. At 8am I walked back down and took a couple of pics at the scene. Here they are. (Click on them to see the larger version) Then I went to work. I couldn't get to the wharf. I'll have a look later after work. 

Update: The NZ Herald has used the first pic. 

Scene at Beach Haven Rd at 8am on TwitPic

Scene at Beach Haven Rd  at 8am (2 ) on TwitPic

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