A car smashed into a power-pole cutting power to hundreds of Tauranga homes last night.
A station wagon ploughed into the pole on Poike Rd, Ohauiti about 10.30pm.
The 41-year-old male driver, and sole occupant of the vehicle, was taken to Tauranga Hospital with a serious arm injury.
Power was cut to suburbs including Maungatapu, Ohauiti and Pyes Pa for about an hour.
The cause of the crash is still being investigated.