Auckland’s leaders, Mayor Wayne Brown and Deputy-Mayor Desley Simpson, have extended their condolences following the death of a bus driver on Wednesday night.
Police told the Times the bus driver died following a crash involving the electric bus he was driving, which collided with a car on Tāmaki Drive in Parnell.
Emergency services were called to the scene at about 9.20pm on October 22, after reports of a fire breaking out on the bus.
“I was saddened by the news that a bus driver had lost their life in a tragic traffic incident overnight,” Brown said in a statement on Thursday evening.
“It’s a stark reminder of the fragility of life and how it can change in the blink of an eye.”
Brown said his thoughts were with the driver’s family, friends, and colleagues, and acknowledged the support being provided by Auckland Transport, the bus company, and other agencies.
“Please take extra care on our roads and look after each other, as we head into Labour Weekend.”
Hato Hone St John says it was notified of the incident at 9.17pm, responding with three ambulances and two rapid response vehicles.
Two patients were assessed at the scene, with both transported to Auckland City Hospital, one in a serious and one in a moderate condition.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand says about 16 fire trucks and several support vehicles attended to extinguish the blaze, with crews remaining at the scene into the early hours of Thursday morning.
AT says Tāmaki Drive is now open in both directions, after earlier closures between The Strand and Ngapipi Road caused significant traffic disruptions.
The serious crash unit continues to investigate the cause of the crash, police say.
Simpson, also the local councillor for Orakei, extended “our deepest sympathies” to the family of the bus driver.
“Everyone goes to work expecting to come home again safely, so this comes as a huge shock to many.
“I am told Fire and Emergency have confirmed the fire did not result from the bus batteries, but from the car itself.
“There is however an ongoing investigation into the incident, and it may take some time to resolve, potentially into Friday,” Simpson says.
“Once this is all resolved, I’m sure there will be many learnings about how this incident was responded to including communication and traffic management.
“I believe we can do better and have had some conversations to that effect already.”
