Police divers are preparing to being searching the area around the Mangatapu Bridge for the driver of a van which plunged into the water following a three-vehicle crash yesterday evening.
Two work colleagues in their 20s had been in the van when it crashed at approximately 6.10pm.
A local police constable arrived at the scene and saw that the passenger had managed to free himself from the van and was in a distressed state in the water.
The officer stripped down to his underwear, jumped in and swam to assist the man.
The man disappeared under the water but then re-surfaced and the officer grabbed hold of him as they were carried by the current.