Car driver 'lucky to survive' bus crash

This school bus ended in the ditch after a collision with a car near Kiripaka yesterday morning. Photo / John Stone

A 36-year-old man is lucky to be alive after a collision with an empty school bus which drove over the bonnet of the car, trapping the driver.

Whangarei Police Constable Brett Steel said the crash happened on a corner near the junction of Ngunguru Rd and Coalhill Lane in Kiripaka at 7.10am yesterday.

"At this stage we believe that for some reason his car has gone on to the wrong side of the road into the path of the bus as it came around the corner," Mr Steel said.

"The front of the bus has driven over the bonnet of the car which has spun the car around into the middle of the road."

It was on a corner known by locals as "Murphy's corner" and about 12km northeast of Whangarei.

The driver, who was taken to Whangarei Hospital in a serious condition, was cut from the car by firefighters. He had severe leg injuries and lacerations to his head.

Mr Steel said the man was very lucky to be alive as his car was a "complete right-off".

The bus was travelling towards Ngunguru to pick up students, while the car was travelling in the opposite direction.

Police said the driver of the bus did well not to roll it.

After colliding with the vehicle the bus went dangerously close to coming off the left-hand side of the road before the driver managed to steer it on to the opposite side of the road and into a ditch.

While it was unclear what speed the car was travelling, the bus was going well below the recommended 45km/h for the corner, Mr Steel said.

The road was blocked for two hours, though was partially opened at times.