Van slips from tow truck, critically injures Rotorua woman

Traffic was backed up following the incident on State Highway 5 south of Rotorua on Tuesday. Photo / Simon Ireland

A woman has been crushed under a van that came loose from a tow truck near Rotorua.

Emergency services were called to the incident south of the Hemo Rd roundabout around 11.20am on Tuesday.

A police spokeswoman today confirmed the van was being winched on to the back of a tow truck.

“As it was being winched, it appears the tow rope has snapped and the van has landed on a female in her 50s who was trapped under the back tyre of this van.”

The spokeswoman said the woman was believed to be the van’s owner.

“She was taken out from under the vehicle and taken to hospital in critical condition.”

The Serious Crash Unit and WorkSafe have been advised.

A Hato Hone St John spokesperson said the woman was taken to Rotorua Hospital.

The incident saw long traffic delays in the area.

Simon Ireland told the Rotorua Daily Post on Tuesday he was stuck in traffic for about 40 minutes at the Waipa turnoff with traffic backed up “roughly 5km south of Rotorua”.

A Fire and Emergency NZ spokesman said two trucks and an operational support vehicle were called to the incident and helped remove the person trapped underneath a vehicle.