Man critically injured in Awapuni Rd crash flown to Waikato Hospital

A man suffered critical multiple injuries in a car and log truck collision on SH35/Awapuni Rd, near the Aerodrome Rd corner, on Friday afternoon. Pictured is the roadblock after the incident. Photo / Gisborne Herald

A man in his 20s was flown to Waikato Hospital on Friday night after a crash between the car he was in and a loaded log truck on State Highway 35.

The crash happened around 3pm on Awapuni Rd, near the Aerodrome Rd corner.

The car ended up on its side.

One person was critically injured, according to a Hato Hone St John spokesperson at the time.

“A second person in the car was not injured,” another St John ambulance spokesman told the Gisborne Herald on Monday.

A senior Gisborne firefighter said the injured man was trapped and had to be freed before he could be taken to the hospital.

“One of his arms and a leg were trapped under the vehicle,” the senior firefighter said.

Firefighters took the roof off the car and lifted the vehicle to free him.

The road was closed for more than an hour while he was treated, freed, and the crash scene was cleared.

Police said the cause of the crash was still under investigation as of Monday morning.

“We have no further updates at this stage.”