Narrow miss as car pushed off road

Joelle Dally | 26th March 2010

Only sheer luck prevented someone being killed when a stolen car was pushed off the Summit Rd and landed on Evans Pass Rd in front of oncoming cars.

The wagon was discovered wrecked and still steaming on Evans Pass Rd by the drivers of three vehicles headed uphill about 9.30pm on Tuesday.

Police believe the vehicle had landed on the road only moments earlier.

Believing they had come across a crash, the drivers phoned emergency services and searched for injured occupants.

But police were disturbed to find the car was stolen and that the thieves had intentionally pushed it off the hill above the road.

That was only after an extensive search of the area for possible injured passengers by police, firefighters and St John Ambulance staff.

Tyre marks were found heading off the hill, as well as a trail of crushed shrubbery.

The car had hit a rock on the way down and flown through the air before landing on the road.

Police said the vehicle would have crushed any car it hit.

It appears the culprits also went to check their handiwork before emergency services arrived.

Constable Richard Scott said people first at the scene saw a dark vehicle come down the hill, then U-turn away after reaching the smashed car.

He said "anyone with a conscience" coming across a crashed car would stop and check if anyone was hurt.

Constable Scott said the offenders were "idiots".

If the timing had been different and the car landed on a vehicle, fatalities would have been certain, he said.

"It was very dangerous. It was only sheer luck by about 30 seconds that no one was killed," he said.

Constable Scott said if death or injury had resulted, the offenders would be facing very serious charges.

The car had been stolen from a Lyttelton address earlier in the evening. No keys were in the ignition.

Anyone with information on those responsible or who saw suspicious activity on the Summit Rd on Tuesday evening should phone the Sumner or Lyttelton police on 378 0200.