Two pedestrians injured in Far North accidents

The boy was hit on State Highway 10 outside the Cable Bay store. Photo/File

Two pedestrians have been injured on Far North roads in a little over eight hours.

One involved a boy hit by a truck, the other a man with two broken legs after walking in the middle of a road at night.

The first accident occurred about 4.10pm on Thursday on State Highway 10, outside the Cable Bay store in Doubtless Bay.

Constable Dave Reynolds, of Mangonui police, said the 11-year-old local boy had stepped out between two parked cars into the path of a large curtain-sided truck as he was walking from the shop to the beach, on the other side of the highway.

The driver swerved but had no chance of avoiding the boy, he said.

While the accident initially appeared serious the boy was taken to Kaitaia Hospital in a moderate condition, and was discharged that evening with his only injuries grazing to his back and one leg.

The truck was travelling at an estimated 45km/h at the time and the driver was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The speed limit in the area is 60km/h.

The driver was deemed to be not at fault, Mr Reynolds said.

Police, St John Ambulance and the Mangonui Fire Brigade responded. Volunteer firefighters helped the badly shaken driver and the boy's distraught family, and carried out traffic control.

A little over eight hours later a Kaikohe man suffered two broken legs when he was hit by a car just before 1am yesterday.

Police say the man was intoxicated and walking in the middle of Mangakahia Rd, near Northland College, when the accident occurred.

The driver, a 70-year-old woman, sought help at the nearby Z service station.

Sergeant Haydn Korach, of Mid North police, said the man was expected to recover. An investigation was under way.

Kaikohe volunteer firefighters performed first aid until St John Ambulance arrived.

The patient was then taken to the landing area at Lindvart Park and flown to Whangarei Hospital by the Northland Rescue Helicopter, with the chopper leaving Kaikohe about 2.45am. His condition was unknown at edition time yesterday.