Avatar star Cliff Curtis hospitalised with internal injuries after high-speed crash

Cliff Curtis has said he was left injured in a New Zealand crash after a Tesla he was in reportedly crashed into a taxi.

The Kiwi actor, 58, was reportedly one of two people in the Tesla, which collided with a parked Prius taxi on Auckland’s waterfront last week.

The incident is said to have occurred at 10.30pm at a busy intersection on September 23. Firefighters on the scene reportedly cut the driver out of the taxi and provided him with life support until emergency services arrived.

Curtis has shared a statement in which he confirmed he was hospitalised with internal injuries, while the taxi driver is said to have been left ‘seriously injured’.

The Avatar star said he is ‘deeply saddened by this incident’ and is ‘collaborating’ with authorities.

Fire and Emergency Auckland City senior station officer Michael Manning told the New Zealand Herald it was a ‘very high-speed impact’.

New Zealand Police reportedly told the publication that no charges have been filed and the investigation into the cause of the crash was ongoing. Metro contacted the force, which said there was no update at this time.

Fire and Emergency Auckland told us they could not comment due to privacy reasons.

Curtis has issued a statement confirming he was hospitalised with internal injuries after the crash.

He said in the statement provided to the Herald: ‘I am deeply saddened by this incident. My thoughts are with those who were hurt, and their families at this time.’

The actor went on to say that he assisted the two others involved in the collision with first aid until emergency services arrived.

The statement said he was ‘collaborating fully with relevant authorities’ and that he will not be making any further comment ‘out of respect for the process’.

The reporting stated that of the three involved in the collision, one was left in a ‘serious condition’, another in a ‘moderate condition’ and the third person suffered ‘minor injuries’.

Curtis was born in Rotorua, New Zealand and is of Māori descent. His acting credits include The Piano and The Meg, as well as the second and third Avatar films. He is slated to appear in the fourth and fifth instalments of the franchise.

Metro contacted Cliff Curtis’s representative for further comment.