Man hospitalised after being hit by car near Dipton

Photo / File

A man is in intensive care at Dunedin Hospital after he was hit by a car near Dipton last night.

Senior Sergeant Cynthia Fairley said emergency services were called to the incident on the Lumsden-Dipton Highway, State Highway 6 about 10.20pm yesterday.

"A northbound Mitsubishi vehicle came across a second vehicle stopped on the opposite side of the road. It had its headlights on. There were no other indicators or hazard lights on the vehicle," Fairley said.

"As the Mitsubishi went north at approximately 70km/h, a passenger is believed to have been outside the parked vehicle he had been travelling in due to feeling ill. The passenger went out onto the road and was hit by the Mitsubishi."

Fairley said the person hit was a 33-year-old man from Invercargill. He was airlifted to Dunedin Hospital in a critical condition and is believed to be still in the Intensive Care Unit with multiple injuries and fractures.

The 19-year-old driver of the northbound car had not been drinking, Fairley said.

The incident occurred in a 100km/h speed zone area in good weather. However, there was no street lighting.

The scene is being examined today by police and the Mitsubishi vehicle has been retained for inspection.

The passenger was believed to have been under the influence of alcohol at the time and was wearing dark clothing, Fairley said.

- nzherald.co.nz