‘I was screaming’: Musician shares moment his fiance was hit in Santa parade accident + VIDEO

After a BurgerFuel-branded car ploughed into a brass band at a west Auckland Christmas parade, concerns have been raised about why initial reports of the accident focused on the plight of those inside the car, rather than the victims hit by the vehicle.

The car, which was part of the parade, was seen revving its engine metres away from the band, before inadvertently driving into the musicians who were in front of a stage.

Listen to our interview with brass band musician Tupelu Aukuso about his reaction to the accident:

Media reports stated the car “rolled slowly into two pedestrians” due to a “mechanical malfunction”, as well as saying that children in the car may have been assaulted.

However conflicting reports have emerged about what occurred, with the head of the Avondale Business Association calling for BurgerFuel to apologise for the distress caused by the incident.

Watch footage on our Instagram page, showing the car moments before it drove into the brass band:

Tupelu Aukuso, who was playing the euphonium for the 30-strong PIPC Avondale Auckland Community Brass Band, says the incident happened incredibly quickly, knocking down his partner along with dragging others under the stage.

“We saw the car … it started revving… we thought he was trying to do a burnout and then all of sudden I hear someone screaming ‘stop’ and then the car has come right through the middle of our band, just missing me but taking two or three people under the stage with the car.

“I looked around to see where my partner was, but I couldn't find her - and so I started screaming and yelling for someone to help me push the car back.”

Tupelu Aukuso and his partner Luisa-Marie Lopesi before playing in the Avondale Christmas Parade. Photo/ Supplied

Aukuso says it feels like the media initially downplayed the seriousness of the accident for his fellow band mates.

“A lot of us were injured. Two ended up in hospital, another needed to go to hospital later that night. Our band conductor was side-swiped, and two others were hit but escaped with just some bruises and scratches.

Regarding the heightened tensions following the incident: “I’m not too sure how people are expected to react when a car hits your family members. I’ve seen comments that it’s a mechanical fault, but how were we meant to have known that.

“But in terms of people saying kids were assaulted. The children were in the back seat of the car and given the car only had two doors, there was no way the children were pulled out. People were just trying to get the driver to stop.”

Laura Autagavaia, also witnessed the incident, and says the whole thing happened in a flash.

“It was quite a shocking thing to watch. The car was doing all its revving. It looked like they had no control. There was that quote that it was moving at a slow roll - but it was definitely faster than a slow roll."

Aukuso and his partner stayed with the two who were hospitalised till about 130am on Saturday night and says the injured pair have now been discharged.

In a statement released on Saturday, relieving Auckland City district commander Inspector Jacqui Whittaker said the passengers of the car were assaulted and police were making further enquiries to understand what happened and identify those responsible for the assault.

Further comment was sought by PMN to acknowledge the concerns of witnesses at the event. However a media spokesperson said the police stood by its earlier statement, adding: “The vehicle was travelling below 10km/h at the time. Upon arrival and initial assessment of the vehicle it was determined to likely have been caused by a mechanical fault. The vehicle was towed for a further assessment.”

In a statement reported in the NZ Herald, the Avondale Business Association’s chairman Marcus Amosa said: “Rather than attributing the incident to a mechanical failure, the community urges BurgerFuel to acknowledge the driver’s actions, express regret and commit to rectifying the situation.”

Amosa said the BurgerFuel vehicles were revving and screeching as they approached the stage, and created skid marks behind the lead vehicle.

“Concerns immediately arose among the crowd, particularly regarding the appropriateness of such vehicular behaviour in a confined space where small children were present,” he said.

BurgerFuel has not responded to PMN's request for comment, but the NZ Herald reports that BurgerFuel NZ head of brand and marketing Nikki Soons said: “We are shocked to hear about the incident that has occurred involving one of the BurgerFuel promotional vehicles and we are very concerned for anyone injured. We do not yet know what caused the accident and are currently gathering all the information. We have a BurgerFuel representative at the scene and will be working with police to ascertain what has happened.”