Police hope to interview crash driver on Friday

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

POLICE investigating the crash between a car and a logging truck south of the Tolaga Bay gorge last Friday hope to speak to the woman who was driving the car by the end of the week.

The car collided with the loaded truck on the sweeping curve on State Highway 35 just past Rototahi Station.

The 29-year-old woman driving the car is in hospital recovering from injuries to her legs.

“We have not spoken to the woman yet and will not do so until she is well enough,” police said. “We hope to do that on Friday.”

Police have been investigating the speed the woman’s rental car was being driven at leading up to the crash.

The driver of the log truck was “shaken up” but not injured, police said.

“He was not worried about himself, just about the welfare of the woman in the car.”

The driver helped other passersby tend to the woman until emergency services arrived. She is in a stable condition in hospital.

The Serious Crash Unit did a scene examination on Friday.