Hill crash: Man in serious condition

A man was rescued from his car after a crash on State Highway 2’s Remutaka Hill road on Sunday. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Passerby did right thing for victim

MARCUS ANSELM
[email protected]

A man was rushed to hospital on Sunday afternoon after he was cut from car wreckage on State Highway 2’s Remutaka Hill.

Cameron Douglas, in his 40s, suffered serious injuries after his car struck two others in a crash at about 4pm.

He suffered a fractured neck and was in a stable condition at Wairarapa Hospital on Monday night.

Douglas had been heading home to Lower Hutt after visiting his father in Masterton.

He was rescued by firefighters from Featherston and Greytown after the crash.

Passers-by were looking after Douglas when emergency workers arrived at the scene.

Douglas’ father, Peter, said his son was lucky to be alive. He thought heavy rain combined with diesel on the road was a factor.

“He knows the road extra well. It was just the conditions. Why isn’t there regular patrols like there used to be to prevent this from happening? Whoever’s in charge of the road should make sure that there is an action plan when road conditions like this happen or a diesel spill is reported. There were two closures on the hill.”

Featherston Fire and Emergency duty officer Colin McKenna was on the scene but was not in charge of managing the incident.

“The car went out of control as he went around the corner,” McKenna said.

“My understanding is that he hit two other vehicles.

“He was injured, and he was lying back in the car when we got there with a gentleman holding his head to keep him steady.

“It’s a good thing to do in case they’ve got neck injuries of some sort. This person – and I do not know who that person was, but they knew it was a good thing to do.

“Our Featherston fire fighters took over from him, then when the Greytown appliances arrived, because of him not being able to move, they cut the roof off the car.

“The ambulance took over and did their thing and took him away.”

McKenna said there was a second crash further up the hill towards Upper Hutt.

Peter Douglas said he was grateful to the people who stopped to help his son, emergency services, and hospital staff.