Car crash cuts power to more than 1100 properties near Whanganui

Emergency services responded after a car crashed into a power pole at Kai Iwi, causing widespread power cuts. Photo / NZME

More than 1100 properties lost power after a car crashed into a power pole at Kai Iwi near Whanganui.

Fire and Emergency NZ shift manager Alison Munn said fire services were called at 7.08pm on Sunday to a car that had hit a power pole on Peat Ave.

“The lines were down.

“There were no people in the vehicle or around it. The power company attended to isolate and fix the power pole.”

Firefighters assisted with scene safety, Munn said.

A Powerco spokeswoman said the outage affected 1173 properties.

Of those, 113 properties had their power off for just over eight hours, with 13 still without power on Monday morning while further safety inspections were done.

Power was restored to 580 properties in 13 minutes and 480 properties had their power restored in 52 minutes, she said.

The power pole was replaced.

“Powerco thanks customers for their patience and understanding as crews worked as quickly and safely as possible to make repairs and restore power to all affected customers.”

A police spokesman said they attended a single-vehicle crash on Peat Ave.

The driver was not located initially but was found soon after uninjured, he said.

A Hato Hone St John spokesman said they responded with one ambulance but the crew was not required as there were no patients on scene.

Eva de Jong is a reporter for the Whanganui Chronicle covering health stories and general news. She began as a reporter in 2023.