Elderly driver critical after crashing car

A pensioner was the sole occupant of a vehicle that lost control on Havelock Rd yesterday. Photo / Duncan Brown

A 74-year-old man was revived by emergency services yesterday after a car crash that left his vehicle perched on a traffic island.

Last night he remained in a critical condition in Hawkes Bay Hospital after losing control of the car while travelling on Havelock Rd towards Hastings at about 11.20am.

Just before the intersection with St Georges Rd the man, the sole occupant of the vehicle, struck a traffic island and came to rest with the rear of the vehicle resting on a pedestrian barrier. Hawke's Bay police Senior Sergeant Greg Brown said a Havelock North volunteer fire brigade member, travelling to the station to respond to the accident, came upon the scene where she administered first aid, along with an off-duty nurse who was also driving past.

Chest compressions were administered at the scene and it's understood the man was resuscitated en route to hospital.

Mr Brown appealed for witnesses.

"We will be looking for any witnesses, particularly travelling in the same direction," he said.

"It is possible it was a medical event - that will be part of our investigation."

Police are waiting on post mortem results on Richard Webster Harbinson, who died in Havelock North after losing control of his vehicle on January 9.

The Scottish national's wife and Havelock North-based daughter were also injured in the crash on Waimarama Rd when their vehicle crossed the centre line after failing to negotiate a bend.

Their car clipped an oncoming vehicle and spun off the road and into a tree.