A man is under police guard in hospital after he allegedly assaulted a man, stole his car, drove the wrong way onto the Auckland motorway network with deflated tyres and caused several minor collisions.

Police began investigating on Tuesday afternoon after a man at a Māngere address was assaulted by a man who then stole his vehicle at about 2pm.

Inspector Dave Christofferson said police received additional information later that evening that the vehicle was in Papakura and that a firearm might be in the vehicle.

Police then saw the vehicle on Mahia Rd in Manurewa and sent the police Eagle helicopter to the area.

“Police observed this vehicle leaving the area at high speed, heading south towards Drury,” Christofferson said.

“Our staff successfully deployed spikes and a pursuit was initiated, as the vehicle was travelling at low speed through back through Papakura.”

The driver then entered the motorway network at Takanini, driving on the wrong side of the road.

“With the tyres deflated, at one point he unsuccessfully attempted to take another person’s vehicle, before continuing to drive dangerously against the flow of traffic,” Christofferson said.

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Several minor collisions occurred with members of the public during the incident.

“Realising the risk to others, a police unit took decisive action and used their vehicle to push the offender’s vehicle clear of live lanes and back onto the off-ramp.”

The man then fled on foot into a commercial yard off Spartan Rd, where he was arrested with the help of a police dog. He sustained minor injuries and was taken to Middlemore Hospital.

Christofferson said the man was under police guard ahead of a bedside court hearing today.

“It’s only by good fortune that this man’s reckless actions did not result in death or serious injury last night.”

The 34-year-old man has been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, assault with a blunt instrument, unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, burglary, reckless driving, and failing to stop.