Crash follows safe-driving course

An 83-year-old Tauranga woman drove off the road - minutes after leaving a safe-driving meeting.

Police say the woman had just attended a Safe with Age driving course and had travelled only metres when she careered off the road in Elizabeth St on Monday.

The car was wedged between a retaining wall and a hand rail and she had to be cut free by firefighters.

Sergeant Grant Carpenter of Tauranga police said the woman was lucky because the car mowed down several posts supporting the hand rail which went through the front windscreen and out the back window, narrowly avoiding impaling her.

It was possible a medical issue had caused the woman to crash, but police were still investigating that.

The motorist was checked for injury by St John but was not taken to hospital.

- NZPA