Milk tanker driver freed from crash

The scene of a crash involving a milk tanker near Cambridge in the Waikato today. Photo / Christine Cornege

A truck driver has been taken to hospital with serious leg injuries after he was rescued from a milk tanker which crashed into a power pole, bringing down live power lines.

The man was trapped in the badly damaged cab for about 40 minutes after the truck hit the pole and a fence on Roto o rangi Rd in Cambridge about 12.20pm.

The truck rolled and overturned, crushing the roof of its cab.

Police said extracting the driver was difficult because the truck was covered in live power lines.

The man was rescued shortly after 1pm and taken to Waikato Hospital with serious leg injuries, a St John ambulance spokesman said.

The injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.

The man, a driver for Waikato company Waharoa Transport, had been working under contract to dairy company Open Country Dairy.

Open Country chairman Laurie Margrain said the accident was regrettable and the company was concerned for the man's welfare.

"We'll monitor that closely and do whatever we can to help the family,'' he said.

Management staff would do what they could to communicate the news to staff and offer them help as they came on duty.

Mr Margrain said the accident would not have an impact on the company's milk supply.

"We're much more concerned, of course, for the health and wellbeing of the driver.''

A Waharoa Transport spokesman was not immediately available.