A wooden power pole on Lake Ferry Rd was snapped in a crash which has landed a South Wairarapa man in hospital with serious injuries. PHOTOS/HAYLEY GASTMEIER
HAYLEY GASTMEIER
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A 28-year-old South Wairarapa man is in intensive care after a crash in which alcohol is thought to have been a factor.
The crash happened just before 1.30am Wednesday on Lake Ferry Rd near Martinborough.
The driver lost control and the vehicle collided with a wooden power pole on a straight piece of road, about 4km from the township.
Martinborough deputy fire chief Jake Hawkins said the passenger side of the sedan absorbed most of the impact.
“We had to get [the passenger] out quickly so we extricated him out through the driver’s door . . . patient extrication was critical to establish a good airway, so we managed to move his legs and shimmy him out.”
The passenger was transported to Wellington Hospital in a “critical condition” by Wellington Free Ambulance, a police media spokesperson said.
The patient was in a serious condition in the intensive care unit Wednesday afternoon, a hospital spokesperson confirmed.
Acting Senior Sergeant Ian Osland said the driver, a 30-year-old man from South Wairarapa, was “physically unscathed”.
He underwent a breath test at the scene.
“We’re considering alcohol to be a factor in the crash.
“The driver co-operated with police during the investigation.”
Osland said the anticipated charges hinged on the outcome of the patient in hospital.
“We hope the passenger pulls through.”
The police Serious Crash Unit remained on site into the early hours of the morning analysing the crash scene.
A portion of Lake Ferry Rd was closed until the site was cleared, just after 6am.
A woman who lived across the road from the crash scene called emergency services.
“I just heard a car and a horn tooting,” she said.
Osland said it was a timely reminder to all drivers to monitor alcohol intake over the festive season.
