Car goes off bridge

PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER

UPDATE:
The driver of a ute that crashed through a metal barrier and into the Utuhina stream has walked away uninjured.

The ute went off the bridge on Old Taupo Rd, across from Rotorua Boys' High School, landing on its side, in the stream.

Emergency services were called to the scene around 5pm.

The incident caused significant traffic build-up from all directions for more than an hour, with police controlling the intersection of Old Taupo Rd and Pukuatua St.

The driver was the sole occupant of the ute and a police media spokesman said he was uninjured.

Some residents living near the stream went down to have a look. One local said they had just got home when they saw all the commotion and had gone down to see what was going on.

Two other men stopped after seeing the scene while driving past. One said the corner turning from Pukuatua onto Old Taupo Rd was often slippery.

EARLIER:

A car has gone off a bridge into the Utuhina Stream.

A police media spokesman said the incident happened near the intersection of Old Taupo Rd and Pukuatua St.

He said the driver of the car was the sole occupant of the car.

The driver was out of the car and was uninjured, he said.

A reporter at the scene said the car was on its side in the stream.

She said a significant portion of a barrier across from Rotorua Boys' High School had been destroyed.

The lights at the intersection are currently down, with police controlling traffic.

Traffic is backed up in both directions, with a section of the north bound side down to one land.

Three police cars and an ambulance are at the scene.