Driver claims he lost control and rolled on State Highway 3 after being required to take evasive action

David Musgrave claims a driver is lucky to be alive after she allegedly pulled out in front of him on SH3. Photo / Simon Waters

A man believes a female driver of a sedan who pulled out in front of him would probably not be alive right now if he had not taken evasive action.

David Musgrave, 71, was travelling along State Highway 3 and alleges that the sedan was approaching a Give Way sign at the Whangaehu Beach Rd intersection.

It did not stop.

"It shot across in front of me and, if I hadn't done something, I would have smacked her right in her driver's side door," Musgrave said.

"I flattened my foot and aimed for a gap. I went through the gap, took out a lamppost, ripped along a side of the bank, through the fencing and rolled over into the paddock."

Emergency services were quick to the scene of the crash that occurred about 11am last Wednesday and an ambulance transporting a patient in the area was the first vehicle to arrive.

The woman alleged to have pulled in front of Musgrave stopped and began making claims that he was speeding while he was being checked over by an ambulance officer.

After he had been cleared of any serious injuries, Musgrave inquired about the woman involved, but police told him she was gone.

Musgrave said he was shaken by the incident.

"I was upset about what that woman had done. She took no ownership of it. She was just mouthing off about me speeding and that's as far from the truth as you can get.

"I'd like the lady to come forward and own up to her part in it. At the end of the day, she caused the accident, not me."

Musgrave is from Greytown and works in pest control.

He has been working in Manawatū since Christmas 2018 and was travelling from Palmerston North to Fordell at the time of the crash.

Musgrave's vehicle was written off.

"I was driving my Nissan Patrol which wouldn't take any prisoners if I hit something. They're big, sturdy tank wagons," he said.

"I was only doing 100km an hour, they're not speed machines."

Police are investigating the incident.