Man admitted to hospital after power pole crash at Matawhero

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

A man was admitted to Gisborne Hospital after the vehicle he was driving left MacDonald Road at Matawhero and hit a concrete power pole in the early hours of yesterday morning.

The crash happened opposite the JNL mill shortly before 4.30am yesterday.

“We found the man trapped in the vehicle when we arrived,” an emergency services spokesman said.

The fire crew took a door off the stationwagon to get him out.

Once freed from the vehicle the man was handed over to St John ambulance officers for assessment and he was transported to hospital.

A hospital spokeswoman said the man was admitted to the intensive care unit.

“He was in a stable condition.”

The stationwagon was substantially damaged in the crash.

“It would probably be a write-off,” the emergency services spokesman said.

“Fortunately the concrete pole remained intact, and the power lines did not come down.”

FirstLight Network staff attended to inspect the pole and make sure it was safe.

Police also attended the crash and they have an inquiry under way.