A University of Auckland associate professor is facing a long and painful recovery after being critically injured in a horrifying crash that saw a car mount the footpath and plough into pedestrians outside the university’s engineering school.
Dr Vinod Suresh, originally from Chennai, India, a respected academic with the Department of Engineering Science and the Auckland Bioengineering Institute, was among five people injured on 24 March when a vehicle veered off Symonds Street and struck pedestrians before crashing into a tree.
The crash left Dr Suresh with life-threatening injuries: his quadriceps were torn from his pelvis, his bladder and colon were ruptured, and he suffered multiple fractures and herniated muscles.
Dr Suresh told The New Zealand Herald from his hospital bed:
“If it weren’t for the swift actions of the ambulance and fire crews, I might not be here today.”
More than a week on, Dr Suresh has lost a significant amount of weight as he remains unable to walk, eat, or carry out basic tasks without assistance:
“I can’t shower by myself. I can’t eat any solids or take any liquids. I basically can’t live an independent life.”
The crash has had devastating consequences for the professor and his young family. His wife, who has not returned to work since the incident, remains by his side daily. “It’s beyond frustrating that someone’s carelessness can cause this,” she said.
“He was just walking on the footpath—there was nothing he could have done.”
The impact of the incident has rippled far beyond the hospital walls. A once-active squash player and Sea Scouts volunteer, Dr Suresh is now navigating an uncertain future filled with pain, medication, and unanswered questions.
“It’s like an entire village is affected,” his wife said of the toll on their extended support network.
Despite the trauma, Dr Suresh says he is focusing on recovery rather than resentment. “There’s not a whole lot of point in trying to understand the motivation or character of the person driving the car,” he said.
“My focus has been on dealing with the consequences.”
Court documents reveal the 20-year-old driver, who has name suppression, faces several charges including careless driving causing injury, and possession of drug-related paraphernalia and nitrous oxide canisters.
Police confirmed that Dr Suresh remains the only victim still in hospital, while other injured pedestrians have since been discharged. The University of Auckland has offered support services to affected students and staff.
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