Man suffers serious injuries in car crash

Firefighters roll a ute back on to its wheels after the second of yesterday's accidents in the Kaitaia area. Photo / Peter Jackson

A 22-year-old Kaitaia man suffered life-threatening head and other injuries when the car his 19-year-old brother was driving crashed into a concrete power pole.

The crash happened on State Highway 1 at Victoria Valley, 13km south of Kaitaia, in the early hours of yesterday morning.

A police spokesman said the injured man was lying on the back seat, unrestrained, when the car crossed the centre line as it headed towards Kaitaia, hitting the pole with sufficient force to topple it. The driver escaped with minor injuries, but was taken to Kaitaia Hospital for checking. His brother was flown to Whangarei Hospital by Northland Electricity Rescue Helicopter.

Police said alcohol was suspected as a factor, and possibly speed, although the Serious Crash Unit from Whangarei was still investigating.

The crash cut electricity to homes at Victoria Valley, including Te Rore and Thompson roads, at 3.16am. A new pole had been installed by 9am, and power was fully restored just before 11am.

Meanwhile emergency services were called to Kaitaia's Redan Rd at 8.30am yesterday after a ute collided with a parked car outside Kaitaia Hospital.

The impact severely damaged the rear of the parked car and left the ute lying on its side. The driver and sole occupant was understood to have suffered nothing more than a graze.

A police spokesman said the driver had been changing the music when his vehicle crossed the centre line and collided with the parked car. He was to be warned for careless driving.