Family trapped upside down in creek

A passing driver today rescued a family of three trapped upside down in their car in a creek.

Police said the car skidded off the road and rolled, landing upside down in the creek off State Highway 35 between Gisborne and Ruatoria this morning.

Acting Sergeant Dedrie Hemingway, of Gisborne, said the couple and their two-year-old child were trapped for several minutes before a forestry contractor drove past the crash site, and managed to free them.

Ms Hemingway said all of the occupants were taken to hospital but had now been released.

- NZPA