Passersby lift a child’s car in Rotorua car park incident

Members of the public lifted a car to free a child who was trapped underneath in an incident that happened in a parking lot in downtown Rotorua.

The incident occurred at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in the Rotorua Credit Union parking lot at the corner of Ranolf and Pukuatua Sts. The police along with the St John fire and ambulance services are present.

Lum Tamati told a Rotorua Daily Post reporter at the scene that he and three other men in the area saw the commotion and picked up the boy’s car.

“As I was passing, I saw all these people running through the parking lot, so I looked over there and couldn’t see at first, but when I looked correctly, I saw a child under a car and it looked like they had run it over.” .

“About four of us guys jumped out of our cars from the spot to help this young man. We lifted the car so he could get out. He’s just a little bruised, he was crying and kept going, but he looks good.”

Rotorua businessman Darryl Pierce was in the area shortly after it happened and said he offered to help.

He said he helped the boy’s mother and father to remain calm while monitoring the boy, who he thought was about 6 years old.

He said there were two children in the car, including an older boy, and the incident was understood to have happened while his parents were inside the Credit Union.

“It was just one of those silly accidents and a horrible time of year for it to happen. He was pretty hurt, but hopefully that’s it.”

He said those who lifted the boy’s car did a great job.

“It was pretty obvious what to do.

“My main concern was the young man and making sure Mom and Dad weren’t overly stressed. I just hope he’s okay and I hope the family has a good Christmas.”

A police spokeswoman said it appeared that a child was hit by a car on Ranolf St.

“The circumstances are not clear, but fortunately the boy only suffered minor to moderate injuries. They have been taken to the hospital by ambulance,” he said.

A spokeswoman for St John confirmed that they attended and evaluated a person in moderate condition.