Live power lines trapped a man inside his car after he crashed into a power pole in Papamoa last night.
The local man, 58, was travelling home in a Peugeot along Parton Rd when he hit a concrete power pole about 10.20pm.
Power was cut to about 250 homes in Papamoa andthe section of road between Tara and Bell Rds was cordoned off.
Live power lines fell from the pole and over the man's car, trapping him inside. It is understood he called 111 from the driver's seat.
Papamoa volunteer fire brigade fire chief Allan Bicker said the pole was "pretty much destroyed" and the car was written off.
"He actually hit the power pole with the back of his car.
"The windows were all smashed. The windscreen was in one piece but that was the only glass not smashed."
Mr Bicker said once power was cut to the lines, the man made his way out of the car.
A St John Ambulance spokesman said the man was not injured but very "shaken".
Powerco network operations manager Phil Marsh said supply was lost to customers at about 10.45pm. "Supply was progressively restored with final repairs completed by 7am this morning."
