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Police are eager to hear from witnesses who were first on the scene of Sunday's fiery collision with a truck in Hamilton which has left two dead and two in a critical condition.
Witnesses say the car hit the Fonterra delivery truck "at high speed" around 3:45am on Sunday morning, as it was pulling into PAK'nSAVE in Ulster Street, Hamilton.
Police are heaping praise on a group of Hamilton police officers who arrived within minutes, putting their lives on the line as they pulled four people from the burning vehicle.
They're also eager to thank members of the public like Bre Walker and neighbour Jermaine Wilson who rushed to offer their help to the three males and a female inside the car.
Bre Walker lives over the road from the scene and described hearing "a loud bang and an explosion" before running out to find the silver Subaru wedged under the truck.
"My friend from upstairs yelled out the window and said 'do you need a fire extinguisher?' and I was like 'yes, yes chuck it down'. There was a big group of people outside and we were all crying, saying 'help them, help them' as police arrived," she said.
Motel resident Jermaine Wilson and a young PAK'nSAVE worker raced to find fire extinguishers as the blaze exploded out of control.
"I just wanted to run over there and pull them out but it was that quick, the car went up in flames that quick, couldn't get in there," said the father of six.
Witnesses say police arrived almost immediately.
"I came out within thirty seconds of the crash and police were already walking up to it," said Bre Walker.
In a statement Police said: "We can confirm a Police unit was already on patrol in the vicinity of the crash at the time it occurred, and was able to respond instantly. We can also confirm that Police were not following or pursuing this vehicle leading up to the crash."
Three officers were treated for smoke inhalation after a group fought back flames and heat to pull the occupants from the burning car.
"They were risking their lives. There were explosions - they just kept trying to help. They were really brave," said one witness.
Fonterra Brands managing director Brett Henshaw said the truck driver involved escaped without serious harm.
"The driver of the delivery vehicle escaped without any serious physical injuries, but was obviously shaken and we are doing what we can to support him as our number one priority is people's safety and wellbeing."
Two of the car's occupants remain in Waikato Hospital in a critical condition. The other two died at the scene and police say the process of working with next of kin is ongoing.
"We ask that members of the public who witnessed the event and may have recorded any parts of the incident to make contact with Police on 105 quoting file number 230709/5741," a spokesperson told Newshub.
