Driver critical after car rolls

A man was sent to hospital in a critical condition after this car he was in rolled several times into a paddock on State Highway 1, Oakleigh. Photo / Michael Cunningham

A man was critically injured after the car he was in went off road, rolling several times into a paddock, blocking one lane of State Highway 1 south of Whangarei.

Police spokeswoman Sarah Kennett said the man was heading south on SH1 at Oakleigh when his car left the road, about 200m south of the road leading to the chip mill, at about 6.30am yesterday.

"[The car] has rolled several times before coming to rest on its wheels," she said.

The man, in his 30s, was trapped and had to be cut from his seat, said Mrs Kennett. He was critically injured and suffered head injuries and was transported to hospital by ambulance where he remained in a stable condition. The man was the only occupant and the Serious Crash Unit is investigating the cause.

Yesterday's crash followed another serious incident in Matapouri on Sunday. At about 2.30pm a car travelling south east along Matapouri Rd lost control, crossed the centre line, rolled and ended up on its roof.

Mrs Kennett said one female passenger received suspected spinal injuries and was taken by helicopter to Whangarei Hospital while two other people received minor injuries. Police are investigating the cause of the crash.

Meanwhile, a Far North motorcyclist critically injured in a Labour Weekend crash has undergone more surgery at Whangarei Hospital.

The 23-year-old from Totara North was travelling east on State Highway 10 about 7.30pm on Monday when he lost control on a moderate bend near Bush Point Rd, just past the Taipa bridge.

He slid about 55m along the highway and a footpath before dropping over a 2m bank and hitting a small tree. He was understood to have suffered a broken pelvis, broken leg and chest injuries. Senior Constable Tim Murdock, of Mangonui police, said the man was treated by St John Ambulance then airlifted to Whangarei Hospital.