A 25-year-old from Whakatane left a trail of destruction in his wake before crashing a car into a tree.

A trail of destruction remained after an "out of it" man allegedly drove away from a hit and run and ended up crashing his car off a hill in Wellington.

Police attended the scene on Grosvenor Tce in Wadestown shortly after 11am, where a green Nissan SUV crashed into a tree off the side the hill, taking a chunk of the street's railing with it.

Police were earlier called to reports of a car driving dangerously on Molesworth St. The driver of the SUV, a 25-year-old from Whakatane hit a pedestrian who was then taken to Wellington Hospital with a suspected broken leg.

JULIE ILES The SUV, which ended up stuck in a tree off the side of Grosvenor Terrace had a broken windshield from the 25-year-old driver kicking his foot through it.

The driver was then spotted driving erratically up Molesworth St where he allegedly mounted the kerb and hit several cars.

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He continued driving up Grant Rd, hitting parked cars before driving into Grosvenor Tce, police said.

The driver then swerved off the road and down a bank before landing in a tree.

Video footage showed the man continued to rev his engine after crashing the car, and kicked his bare foot into the windshield until it smashed.

JULIE ILES/STUFF Tim Richards was taking his dogs to the vet when he saw the car drive off the hill. He says the driver was "clearly out of it".

The car crashed outside the Wadestown Veterinary Clinic, where several people heard the car screeching before it hit the back of a silver Mazda and then drove off the cliff-side of the road.

Passersby, including an off-duty policeman, pulled the man from the car and restrained him.

The driver was not injured but appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, police said.

Tim Richards, who was taking his three dogs to the vet at the time, said he ran outside in time to see the car stationary on the side of the hill, before he ran straight through the barrier over the hill.

"He looked like a solidly built Māori fellow with longish straggly hair and bare feet. I got him out of the car and restrained the guy for five to 10 minutes until police came."

Richards said the man was "clearly out of it" and his eyes were barely open.

Police then arrested the driver for the second time that day.

Police said the driver would face a number of driving charges and would appear on Friday at the Wellington District Court.

It was not the first time the man had encountered the police on Thursday.

About 7am police received reports of patched gang members doing burnouts, revving their engines and performing skids on motorcycles in Bunny St outside the Railway Station.

The riders left when police arrived. A car belonging was pulled over by police and four men - including the man allegedly involved in the later incident - were arrested.

The three other men were arrested for having outstanding warrants and the driver may face more charges. Police also secured a weapon when the vehicle was searched.

Those three men that had warrants out for their arrest appeared in the Wellington District Court on Thursday.