Business

Avondale business group calls for Burger Fuel to step up after accident

13:35 pm on 26 November 2023

A Burger Fuel car collided with a brass band at the Avondale Santa parade. Photo: NZME / Michael Burgess

A business group in Auckland wants Burger Fuel to do more than just blame a "mechanical fault" for one of its cars hitting people at a parade yesterday.

The vehicle, which was part of the Avondale Santa Parade, rolled slowly into two pedestrians standing in front of the main stage.

The two pedestrians received moderate to serious injuries and were taken to hospital.

Three people - including two children - were also pulled from the Burger Fuel car and assaulted, receiving minor injuries.

Avondale Business Association Marcus Amosa said Burger Fuel should admit the driver's mistake, say sorry, and promise to fix things.

He said the vehicle was creating skid marks, raising concerns from the public about cars moving around in a small space where there were kids present.

A Whau Local Board member said she heard the MC of the Avondale Christmas parade yelling stop shortly before the car hit pedestrians.

Local board member Catherine Farmer was at the parade and described hearing the parade's MC yelling 'stop' and telling people to call an ambulance.

"The MC started yelling out 'stop, stop, go back, stop!' and then I heard him say 'we've got to get Fire and Emergency here, we've got to get ambulances,'" she said.

"And then there was just a general melee."

Burger Fuel was approached for comment.