A Bay of Plenty driver has been rescued from his vehicle after it was caught by trees when it plunged over a bank towards a stream.
A 22-year-old man has had a lucky escape after driving over a bank and being caught by ponga trees that stopped his car from plunging into the stream below.
A police officer at the scene on on Poripori Rd, Lower Kaimai, told the Bay of Plenty Times it appeared thedriver had tried to pass a vehicle on a short straight coming down the hill towards State Highway 29.
Emergency services at the scene of a crash on Poripori Rd. Photo / NZ Police
“He picked up too much speed coming into the corner and appears to have overcorrected.”
The crash was reported to emergency services about 1.20pm.
They arrived to find the man trapped inside the vehicle, which was being held up by ponga trees about 3 metres above the Ngutukakariki Stream.
Two members of the public, who were first on the scene, were reassuring the driver from the road that help was on the way.
The bank the car crashed over. Photo / Haley Doig
After stabilising the vehicle, rescuers abseiled down the bank and extracted the man, who had been trapped for about 30 minutes, the police officer said.
The driver was assessed on the scene and did not have any injuries.
He said the driver was “very fortunate” the ponga trees were there.
The police investigation into the incident continued.
Fire and Emergency NZ northern communications centre shift manager Michael Anderson previously said crews from Greerton and Tauranga fire stations were sent to the scene.
“We received notification of a motor vehicle crash at 1.23pm in the Lower Kaimai near State Highway 29.
“It’s not on State Highway 29 but near it.
“We have two fire trucks there; they are working to extricate a trapped person.”
Hato Hone St John responded to the crash on Poripori Rd, Lower Kaimai, dispatching an ambulance and a rapid response vehicle.
One patient was assessed and treated at the scene.
Haley Doig is an AUT journalism student interning at the Bay of Plenty Times.
