Lucky escape from Lytton Rd Bridge crash

The two occupants of a car that crashed through the railings of the Lytton Road Bridge yesterday morning were lucky. The vehicle was close to plunging into Taruheru River. One of them was taken to Gisborne Hospital by St John ambulance with what was described as minor injuries. Picture supplied

A man and a woman in a car that crashed on Lytton Road Bridge yesterday morning were extremely lucky they did not end up in the Taruheru River, emergency services say.

Police, Fire and Emergency NZ and St John were called to the scene at around 6.30am.

“The sedan veered off the road, hit the bridge railing about midway along the bridge and crashed through it,” a senior firefighter said.

“About half the car was on the bridge, the other half was hanging over the river.

“The man and a woman in the vehicle were very lucky — the car was ready to go over. It could not have been much closer.”

The pair, aged in their late 20s/early 30s, were out of the car when emergency services arrived.

“One of them was taken to hospital by ambulance for a check-up for some minor injuries,” the senior firefighter said.

Police have an inquiry under way.