Armed police are searching for a person reported to have a firearm who fled a crash in the Christchurch suburb of New Brighton.
It plunged a nearby primary school into lockdown for about two hours today.
Police said they were called to Rocking Horse Rd after a car collided with two parked vehicles. No one was injured.
"It is reported the offender fled the scene with a firearm," a police spokesperson said.
Police were making enquiries to identify and locate the offender.
A local woman, who did not want to be named, said neighbours came rushing out when they heard the crash.
"We all heard a giant crash and were quite concerned because it was the kind of crash where you think people have been hurt. We rushed out from all directions."
She said locals saw a young man running down the road and into a side street.
"Two older women were walking down the street, I don't know if they actually saw it happen, but they saw him running down the road and he had an air rifle in his hand. They tried to stop him, which wasn't very wise," she said.
"The police said they had no luck with the dogs. The young man has vanished."
"She heard a big crash of metal and came running out, then she saw someone jumping out of the car and running."
Myers-Daley said the force of the crash propelled their car about four metres forward.
"It's not what you want to have happen on sunny day on Rocking Horse Road. Hopefully they find whoever did it."
South New Brighton School in Christchurch was put in lockdown just after 2pm. It was lifted about two hours later.
A school representative confirmed the school had been in lockdown and parents were contacted.
