Dr Vinod Suresh, an Auckland University associate professor is facing a long and uncertain recovery after being seriously injured in a crash that saw a car mount a footpath and hit multiple pedestrians in central Auckland, The New Zealand Herald reported
Suresh sustained life-threatening injuries in the crash. His quadriceps were torn from his pelvis, and he suffered a ruptured bladder and colon, multiple fractures, and herniated muscles. He told The New Zealand Herald that he now cannot walk, eat, or carry out basic tasks without assistance.
“If it weren’t for the swift actions of the ambulance and fire crews, I might not be here today,” he said.
Suresh, an academic with the University of Auckland’s Department of Engineering Science and the Auckland Bioengineering Institute, was among five people injured on March 24 when a vehicle veered onto the footpath along Symonds Street, outside the university’s engineering school.
One week on from the crash, Suresh said he remains unable to shower independently or consume food or drink. He described the ordeal as traumatic and said he has lost a significant amount of weight as a result of being unable to eat.
The incident has taken a heavy toll not only on Suresh, but also on his wife and their two school-aged children. He told the Herald the crash has had “devastating consequences” for the entire family, and that the impact is impossible to quantify in words.
Despite the gravity of the situation, Suresh said he is focusing on recovery rather than harbouring resentment towards the driver. He told the Herald he is choosing not to dwell on the motivations or character of the individual behind the wheel, and instead is concentrating on managing the aftermath.
According to court documents, the 20-year-old driver—who has been granted name suppression—faces multiple charges, including possession of a drug utensil, possession of four canisters of nitrous oxide, two charges of careless driving, and three additional counts of careless driving causing injury.
Suresh’s wife, who asked not to be named, has not returned to work since the incident and remains at his bedside daily. Speaking to the Herald, she said it was “beyond frustrating” that such injuries could result from someone’s carelessness, adding that her husband had been doing nothing wrong—simply walking on the footpath.
The professor, once an active squash player and Sea Scouts volunteer, is now navigating a new reality. His wife said the crash has affected not just him, but their entire support network, likening it to “an entire village” being impacted.
Suresh continues to manage significant pain with medication. He admitted to feeling anxious about his long-term health and uncertain about what lies ahead.