'Heroes' pull occupants from flaming wreckage

A light truck and a two-door hatchback collided on Lawn Rd today. Photo / Duncan Brown, Hawkes Bay Today

Police have praised the actions of a group of "heroes" who risked their lives to pull three people from the flaming wreckage of two vehicles which crashed near Clive in Hawke's Bay.

If not for the actions of people who saw the crash, there would have been at least two fatalities, Senior Sergeant Greg Brown said.

The crash happened on Lawn Road in Clive just before 2pm as a car in the process of passing three vehicles collided with a truck turning right into a nearby property, Mr Brown said.

Both vehicles instantly went up in flames, sending up a thick plume of smoke which could be seen in Hastings, 10km away.

The crash left the truck on its side on the road and the car in a ditch. The heat and intensity of the fire was enough to set the tarseal on fire.

A 15-year-old female passenger in the car managed to crawl free, while two 17-year-old males in the car and the 75 year-old male driver of the truck remained trapped in the flaming wreckage.

Residents and passing motorists rushed to the scene, pulling the two teenagers from the wreckage of the flaming car.

Some time after rescuing the two teenagers, the group realised that no one had been seen getting out of the truck.

One of them then disappeared into the black smoke, and after smashing the vehicle's windscreen, felt around the cab and dragged the elderly man free.

"It is very clear that without the immediate reactions of those that risked their own safety to drag free the trapped occupants that we would have been dealing with at least two fatalities," Mr Brown said.

"They may be reluctant heroes, but they are exactly that, and the police and I am sure the victim's family appreciate their actions. I take my hat off to them and look forward to thanking them in person."

Five people were taken to Hawke's Bay Regional Hospital, including a 42 year-old man who was understood to have suffered smoke inhalation after helping rescue the vehicles' occupants.

As of this evening a 15-year-old female and a 17-year-old male remained in hospital and were in a stable condition, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Police were investigating the cause of the crash, and any witnesses were asked to contact Hastings police.

- NZPA