A five-year-old child has been critically injured after being struck by a person believed to have been texting while driving in South Auckland yesterday afternoon.
The child had been crossing the road on Sharland Ave around 3.20pm when they were hit by the vehicle, Inspector Tony Wakelin said.
“Investigations are ongoing into the exact causes of the crash, however Police believe the use of a mobile phone may have been a factor in what occurred,” he said.
“Talking or texting whilst driving is dangerous. A text or call is not as important as a life.
“Charges are currently being considered in this case.”
It was followed by a second incident involving a vehicle which crashed into a house after drink-driving in Waikato yesterday.
Police spotted a vehicle travelling at "more than twice the posted speed limit" in Tuakau around 4.20pm.
"Despite police signalling for the vehicle to stop, the vehicle continued to drive in a reckless manner and fled the area," Wakelin said.
Police did not pursue the vehicle, however officers tracked the car as it travelled onto Bollard Rd.
The vehicle was found crashed into a house.
"Attending police breath-tested the driver as part of routine enquiries in this situation and found him to be over the legal limit," he said.
"Thankfully there were no injuries reported to anyone, the driver or those in the property, and remarkably the damage to the house appears to be minor.
"In saying that, this once again demonstrates the frightful social harm caused by mixing speed with alcohol."
A 21-year-old man has been arrested and charged with dangerous driving and driving under the influence of alcohol.
Wakelin said the crashes are a reminder to drivers that "police will not tolerate drivers risking their and the communities’ lives".
"Drinking and driving, speeding, and using cell phones all contribute to someone’s loved ones possibly being killed on our roads," he said.
"The message is: Don’t think it won’t happen to me, as the decisions we are seeing being made by drivers suggest - it might."
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