Firefighters use the jaws of life to rescue a woman trapped in her car on Tuesday. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
MARY ARGUE
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The jaws of life have freed a woman trapped in her car after a two-vehicle crash in Martinborough.
Emergency services descended on the intersection of Princess St and Kitchener St shortly after midday on Tuesday.
Fire and Emergency confirmed the jaws of life were required to remove the roof of one of the vehicles to extricate a woman who was suffering injuries to her head, neck and chest.
Two other occupants reportedly suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene.
The T-bone collision, which occurred in a 50kmh zone on State Highway 53, left a blue sedan with a crushed frontage and a second car with damage to its rear wheel.
The intersection is governed by give way signs on either side of Princess St, and witnesses said it appeared one of the drivers had failed to stop.
Martinborough chief fire officer Jake Hawkins said what initially presented as a minor accident escalated once the trapped woman’s injuries became evident.
“Her injuries became worse as time proceeded.”
He said the Greytown fire brigade was requested to attend with specialist cutting equipment, and officers provided first aid until ambulance staff arrived.
Police, ambulance staff, and fire brigades from Martinborough and Greytown attended the crash.
A fire and emergency spokesperson said officers provided scene protection and traffic management for over two hours.
Police said a tow truck was required to remove one of the vehicles.
Wellington Free Ambulance confirmed one person was taken to Wairarapa Hospital with moderate injuries.
