Alcohol and drugs are suspected as a factor after five people were injured – one critically – when a car mounted the footpath, hitting pedestrians and trees outside Auckland University today.

People dived out of the way as the vehicle drove along the busy Symonds St footpath before coming to a stop when it crashed into a tree.

A witness told the Herald a car drove down Symonds St in central Auckland going about 50km/h. The speed limit for the area is 40km/h.

Police say they were alerted just after midday.

“At this early stage, it appears a vehicle has collided with a tree and a pedestrian,” police said.

“One person was transported to hospital in a critical condition and four others suffered moderate to minor injuries.”

A car has crashed outside the University of Auckland, with several people injured. Photo / Michael Craig

Police believe drugs or alcohol might have been a factor.

The witness, who wished to remain anonymous, said the car mounted the footpath, striking multiple people as they tried to dive out of the way.

The car also struck trees lining the street.

“Lots of students jumped out of the way but some got hit bad.”

Emergency services were called just after midday. Photo / Michael Craig

A video taken moments after the incident showed a large group of people along with multiple police cars and a fire truck.

Another witness told the Herald the car travelled on the footpath for approximately 20m before it attempted to go up the berm.

The witness claimed it was then the car hit a group of people before smashing into the tree.

Fire crews could be seen attempting to extract the car from the berm.

Ambulance staff appear to be speaking to someone trapped in the vehicle.

The University of Auckland told the Herald it was aware of “an incident involving pedestrian/s and we are just finding out the details”, and referred further inquiries to police.

One bystander told the Herald they’d heard the car mounted the kerb and sideswiped a tree before it proceeded onto the footpath.

“[The driver] tried to turn back on to the road at the lights but couldn’t and smashed into the tree.”

The car appears to have clipped a tree before crashing into another tree. Photo / Benjamin Plummer

They said they didn’t know how many people were injured in the incident.

Symonds St is closed from Wellesley St to Grafton Rd and diversions are in place. Motorists are advised to expect delays.

Students look on as emergency services attend a car-v-tree motor vehicle accident on Symonds St. Photo / Michael Craig

Hato Hone St John said one person was seriously injured and two others were moderately injured. All were transported to Auckland City Hospital.

One other person suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene.

- More to come.