Te Mata Peak Rd crash: Lucky escape as car comes to rest against tree

The car came to a halt in a very precarious position, right beside a 10 metre bank drop. Photo / Warren Buckland

A driver had a lucky escape after losing control of a car on Havelock North's Te Mata Peak Rd.

Police were called after the car smashed into a tree on Monday at 5.30pm.

No injuries were reported and all occupants were out of the car by the time police arrived, a spokeswoman said.

The car lost control and hit a tree, but it could have been much worse. Photo / Warren Buckland

The tree likely prevented serious injury on the hilly road - beyond it lay a 10 metre bank drop.

A man who claimed to be the driver of the car told Hawke's Bay Today's Facebook page he was going 40km/h down the hill in wet conditions when he "just lost traction".

"The car kept sliding, couldn't control anything."

He described the experience as "scary as".

The car remained at the scene in a precarious looking position on Friday.