'It sounded like thunder': Car crash cuts power to hundreds in Pukehangi, Rotorua

A car which crashed on Homedale St left hundreds without power. Photo / David Beck

A Pukehangi resident has described a car crash outside his house last night

as sounding like thunder.

More than 1000 Pukehangi homes were without power after a car crashed into a power pole on Homedale St around 8.50pm.

There were no reported injuries but the lines were down,

a police spokeswoman said.

Vehicle debris scattered across a front yard in Pukehangi. Photo / David Beck

"It sounded like thunder and then all the lights went out," said a man who lives across the road from the crash but did not want to be named. "Most of the people on our street came out to see what had happened.

"It looked like he went off the road, bumped into one fence and then carried on through another."

A car took out multiple fences in a crash last night. Photo / David Beck

He said it was "a bit scary", particularly so close to houses.

"They could just as easily have crashed into one of our houses."

Another resident said she heard a "huge bang" just before 9pm. Then the lights flickered and went out.

This morning, she could see skid marks and debris across the lawn of a house

on Homedale St, a broken street light and numerous broken fences.

Nearby houses appeared to be being powered by a generator.

Damage done by a car which left the road in Pukehangi. Photo / David Beck

Unison spokesman Danny Gough said crews worked overnight to restore power

to 1283 homes immediately after the crash.

"Power [was ]restored to the majority of the homes affected by about 11.45pm.

"Those in the immediate vicinity of the crash took a bit longer but all power was restored by about 6.45am today," Gough said.