Uni students ‘shaken’ after car leaves road and hits pedestrians

University of Auckland (UoA) students are said to be “shaken and upset” by an accident at the heart of their campus last week when a car left Symonds Street and drove into pedestrians.

One victim was hospitalised and four others suffered moderate to minor injuries.

The crash was outside the Faculty of Engineering building on Symonds Street around noon.

The NZ Herald said the car mounted the footpath, hitting pedestrians and trees.

“People [dove] out of the way as the vehicle drove along the busy Symonds St footpath before coming to a stop when it crashed into a tree."

A witness told the Herald [the car was] going about 50km/h. The speed limit for the area is 30km/h.

The driver has been charged with drug possession and five counts of careless driving causing injury.

The 20-year-old man has previously been charged before with three counts of reckless driving causing injury.

Many people on UoA’s Reddit page commented on the accident, concerned about the overall situation and upset with the university’s slow response.

A post about the severely injured person, by Practical_Pick_6546 reads, “Uni sent an email saying it was a staff member and that they're still in hospital.”

“This incident being one the footpath makes no difference because it's the multi-lanes road that brought him there.

“People are constantly driving erratically and dangerously, too. It's disgusting how AT and the University have not allowed our campus to be safely walkable.

“I really hope everyone is okay, and it's still wild there hasn't been any sort of managerial announcement from UoA.”

Displeased university students commenting about the situation on Reddit. Image: screenshot

Comments in response to the post are similarly unhappy with the lack of a swift response from the university.

The president of Auckland University Students' Association (AUSA), Gabriel Boyd, says the situation was incredibly scary.

He expressed support for the victims and their families.

“I want to reiterate the services available here at UoA, namely Campus Care.

“If anyone is distressed from what happened it’s completely understandable, and anyone affected in any way can always take time off to heal,” says Boyd.

When asked how students are feeling about the accident, Boyd said: “It’s quite a similar sentiment to myself, shaken and upset about the whole ordeal.”

The university did not respond to Te Waha Nui’s request for a statement.

Asked why AUSA has not released a statement, Boyd stated it would do so once the police released further details.

Boyd also stressed AUSA’s priority was student wellbeing, leaving the police to investigate the incident further.