Car deal leaves man near death | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

A critically-ill man is still clinging to life after he was thrown off his new car as the old owner sped off in it at an Auckland car fair yesterday,

The deal had been done and the cash had been handed over only seconds before the original owner sped off. The new owner leapt on the car as it took off but was thrown off and was taken to Auckland Hospital in a critical condition in Auckland Hospital.

Detective Senior Sergeant Julian Rinckes said his condition today was unchanged ? critical and life-threatening.

The car was found a few hours later in an Otahuhu car park and the man police allege sped off was charged initially with breaching bail.

Today he was due in Auckland District Court on more serious charges, including driving while disqualified and failing to stop and ascertain injury.

Police said they would be asking the court for the man to be remanded in custody for two weeks.

Other charges would also be laid and if the new owner, 56, died, additional, more serious charges would be laid, Mr Rinckes said.

Police are asking for witnesses to the incident, which happened at about 10.45am yesterday, to come forward.

A car fair manager who witnessed the incident said nothing like this had happened before.

The man, who did not want to be named, said he was about 30m from incident and he and other onlookers were astonished by what they saw.

"The deal was done and the new owner parked the car, then another man jumped in and tried to drive away. The guy who bought it was hanging on to stop him. I've never seen anything like it." ? NZPA