Video has surface online that alleges a police car struck a bystander during an incident involving a group of up to 200 car enthusiasts/boy racers in Te Puke recently.

But police reject this claim saying the patrol car was driving slowly through the group of cars with its lights and sirens on to clear the road and move the group along, which resulted in several people getting out of their vehicles and jumping on the patrol car.

A video uploaded to YouTube purportedly showing a police patrol car striking a bystander during an incident near Te Puke last Friday. SunLive has edited the video to remove profanity embedded into the video clip. Supplied Photo.

The nine second video uploaded to YouTube on the night of the incident shows the exact moment the bystander is allegedly struck by the patrol car, but not what happens leading up to the incident.

On Friday, August 19, police received reports of an estimated 100-200 car enthusiasts/boy racers travelling in convoy and causing traffic chaos between Papamoa and Te Puke at about 11pm.

In a statement sent to SunLive, police say a truck driver reported nearly running into the back of a smaller group of these racers and had to stop suddenly to avoid a collision.

The group split up and travelled to different rural locations before eventually regathering at the intersection of Old Coach and Pongakawa School roads.

'They blocked this intersection and the occupants of the vehicles lined both sides of the road observing other drivers losing control of their vehicles in what is described as sustained loss of traction, or burn-outs,” say police.

'This was extremely dangerous given the close proximity of vehicles to pedestrians.”

Once police caught up with the group, this is when the alleged incident is said to have occurred.

Extra staff were then called to the scene to assist and two patrol vehicles had bottles and other objects thrown at them. It took police nearly two hours to move the group on.

'No one at any time was deliberately run over by a patrol car,” asserts police.

'This unsafe driving, then dangerous parking and latter actions by the drivers increased the risk of a crash, as well as the possibility of injury or death and they were very lucky that no one was injured.”

As a result of last Friday's incident, one person was summonsed for sustained loss of traction and will be appearing in the Tauranga District Court. Police were unable to confirm the court date.

Fairfax reports a person who was there at the time of the incident has sent Bay of Plenty Police a private message via Facebook apologising on behalf of everyone who attended last week's car meet.

'Unfortunately there are too many idiots out to [cause] trouble, drink, litter and be a nuisance, that give us genuine car enthusiasts a terrible name,” the message read.

'The cops shouldn't have to put up with young people throwing bottles and yelling abuse, it's embarrassing for the people who respect the laws and don't want trouble.

'There has been quite a few people saying the same thing on Facebook, so I thought I would take the time to apologise on our behalf. Unfortunately, it's the select bunch that ruin it for everyone.”