Three lucky their crash spotted

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

THREE people were fortunate to escape with only minor injuries early this morning when the car they were in left State Highway 2 in the Waioeka Gorge and plunged 20 metres down a bank.

It happened near the bottom of Traffords Hill on the Opotiki side at about 1am.

“A passing motorist saw what happened, rendered assistance and raised the alarm,” a senior firefighter said.

Fire crews from Matawai, Te Karaka and Gisborne, along with police and a St John ambulance from Gisborne responded.

“They were lucky that the passing motorist was able to help, and that they were not more seriously hurt.

“Their car was down a steep bank, with lots of scrub and trees around it.”

It was unclear where the trio were from, either Gisborne or Wellington.

The fire crews assisted a woman in the vehicle back up the bank using ropes and a ladder.

“The two men in the car were able to climb up themselves,” the senior firefighter said.

Two of the injured were taken to Gisborne Hospital by ambulance and police transported the third person.

They were all treated and discharged later.