UPDATE: A 58-year-old woman has suffered critical injuries after being hit by a runaway trailer while walking along the Taupo lakefront around 8am today.
Taupo police said a truck towing the trailer, which was loaded with timber, was travelling south along Lake Terrace when the trailer detached. It careered across the road slamming into the pedestrian, who was walking on the lakeside footpath, before running down a bank and into the lake.
Passers by raised the alarm and rushed to the aid of the injured woman who was taken to Taupo Hospital with critical injuries.
A local man who witnessed the accident said it was a miracle no vehicles, or other pedestrians on the lakefront walkway, were injured.
The man, who didn't want to named, said he was a short distance away when he saw the trailer break away from the truck.