By MONIQUE DEVEREUX
HAMILTON - Firefighters did not have to go far to a callout yesterday when a van crashed into a Hamilton fire station wall.
The firefighters heard a loud bang and felt their building shake about 9.30 am.
Thinking there had been an explosion, they checked the outside of the station and along Anglesea St, but found nothing.
Minutes later they were driving their fire engines to the neighbouring Beaurepaires, less than 20m away, where a van had careered off the road and smashed into the concrete wall adjoining the tyre business and the fire station.
The wall, part of the Beaurepaires forecourt, had initially kept the van hidden from the firefighters' view.
The firefighters had to battle for nearly 30 minutes to free the driver from the wreckage, using the jaws of life.
He was in a serious condition last night in Waikato Hospital.
Swiss tourist Andy Roesti said he was lucky not to be hit by the van as it crossed the footpath into the forecourt.
"I couldn't believe it. He didn't slow down or anything. He just sped right in front of where I was walking and banged into the wall. It was a real thud."
Mr Roesti ran over to the van and tried to see how badly hurt the man was. He called out to someone in Beaurepaires to call an ambulance.
By this time cyclist Tamati Pokai had heard the crash and joined Mr Roesti. The pair covered the injured man, who was wedged firmly into the wreckage, with their jackets.
They tried to keep him talking, although he was slipping in and out of consciousness.
Mr Pokai said: "He looked in a bit of a bad state. But at least help wasn't far away."
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