Teen lucky to be alive after playing chicken with fire truck

Hamilton police are appealing for witnesses after a 13-year-old was hit by a car this morning. File photo / NZ Herald

A teenage prankster who lay down on the road in the path of fire engine on its way to a major blaze in Masterton is lucky to be alive, says the Fire Service.

Carterton fire chief Wayne Robinson was aboard the fire truck which was called to house fire on Monday when the driver spotted a teenager wearing dark clothing getting lying in the truck's path.

Mr Robinson told the Wairarapa Times-Age the teen would have been dead if he had he not got to his knees when the fire engine was about 50 metres away from him.

It was dark and he was "bloody invisible" when lying on the road,

The driver braked hard and slowed the 15-tonne truck, which was travelling at 75km/h to about 100km/h before reaching the teenager who "took off" while laughing and giving the fingers at firefighters.

Mr Robinson said it was too dark to get a description and he was "well gone" by the time police arrived.

- NZPA