'Very high-speed impact': Tesla collides with parked taxi on Auckland waterfront

Two people are in hospital – one with serious injuries – after a Tesla collided with a parked taxi on Auckland’s waterfront late last night.

The crash happened in the 30km/h zone at the intersection of Jellicoe and Halsey Sts, next to Karanga Plaza.

Firefighters were called around 10.30pm to the crash, with crews arriving to find a man trapped in a Prius, Fire and Emergency Auckland city senior station officer Michael Manning said.

Crews cut the patient out of the car and provided life support until Hato Hone St John arrived.

“Given this area of town, it was a very high-speed impact,” Manning said.

The crash happened outside a major downtown hotel, and a large crowd had gathered.

Emergency services responded to a serious crash at the intersection of Jellicoe St and Halsey St in downtown Auckland overnight, where a Tesla collided with a taxi. Photo / Hayden Woodward

“There were a lot of people about, resulting in heavy congestion and a very busy scene for us to get a grip on early,” Manning said.

“The guys have done an absolute outstanding job here tonight on a very difficult extrication, getting the victim safely out and off to the hospital.”

Two patients – one in a serious condition and one moderate – were taken to Auckland City Hospital, a Hato Hone St John spokesman said. The service sent two ambulances, a critical care unit and an operations manager.

A nearby taxi driver told NZME he saw the Tesla “flying down the road”.

“It was speeding very, very fast and hit the taxi car.”

He guessed the Tesla was travelling more than 100km/h.

The crash happened at the intersection of Jellicoe St and Halsey St in the Viaduct. Photo / Hayden Woodward

“It was so fast it just hit the taxi car ... it was just a big, big impact.

“The crash made the taxi move maybe 3-4 metres, and the driver of the Tesla maybe looked like he had issues.”

Fire crews used hydraulic cutting gear to cut apart the vehicle to free the trapped man, while police and waterfront security managed crowd control.

Firefighters used hydraulic cutting gear to cut open the Prius and free the driver. Photo / Hayden Woodward

Volunteers from Fire and Emergency New Zealand Auckland Operational Support Unit helped tidy the broken glass.

Police at the scene were unable to comment.