Location of incident: NEW PLYMOUTH

Stabbing And Pedestrian Fatality In New Plymouth

Last night, Friday 21 September 2007, just after 11 pm, two separate serious incidents occurred in New Plymouth, where car enthusiasts (boy racers) were gathered.

A fatal vehicle crash occurred on Centennial Drive, on the west side of New Plymouth, where a pedestrian was struck by a car and died at the scene. This is a 50 km/hr speed zone on the outskirts of the urban area, at a place commonly known as the Omata tank farm. It is a location where car enthusiasts regularly gather.

The deceased person is Cain John Longstaff, aged 19 years, of New Plymouth. A 23 year old New Plymouth man has been arrested and charged with Dangerous Driving Causing Death and appears in the New Plymouth District Court at 9.30 am this morning.

At the same time, on the other side of New Plymouth, in the Bell Block industrial area, a stabbing occurred at a large gathering of car enthusiasts. Around 200 people are estimated to have been present there at the corner of Connett Road and Dehavilland Drive.

A 23 year old man was approached by a man unknown to him and attacked with fists and then stabbed in the side.

The sharp knife remained embedded in his side and friends drove him towards hospital. He began losing consciousness and ambulance and police were then called and attended. The knife missed vital organs and he is in a stable condition in Taranaki Base Hospital. Any witnesses to this attack are requested to contact New Plymouth Police.

ENDS

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