Motorist trapped after car rolls and hits power pole in Hastings

LUCKY: Emergency services at the scene of a crash near Havelock North this afternoon. PHOTO VICTORIA WHITE.

An elderly woman escaped with moderate injuries after her car rolled three times and took out a telephone pole in Hastings this afternoon.

Emergency services were called out around 11.30 this morning, responding to a car crash on Railway Rd, Hastings.

Hawke's Bay Road Policing Group sergeant Paul Ormerod said it appeared the driver had been travelling north on Railway Rd, when she came around a bend in the road and drifted onto the left lane, hit a patch of gravel, and lost control.

The car then hit a rail line bank and rolled three times, taking out a telephone pole before coming to a rest upside down on the left side of the road.

Mr Ormerod said the driver - the only occupant - appeared to have moderate injuries.

Police believed the occupant must have been wearing her seat belt, otherwise her injuries would have been more severe.

Mr Ormerod said it was very lucky there was not any oncoming traffic when the driver lost control.

She was removed from the car - which had flipped onto its roof - by St John Ambulance staff.

Police inquiries would be ongoing. The serious crash unit would not be investigating.

Fire and police are on the scene. Traffic is free flowing.