Police redirect traffic after the crash just north of Greytown. PHOTO/TOM TAYLOR
TOM TAYLOR
[email protected]
A driver was in a critical condition after colliding with a tree between Greytown and Carterton on Sunday morning.
The driver’s car came off the road and hit a tree on State Highway 2 in Ahikouka, just north of Greytown.
The driver was the sole occupant of the car.
A police spokesperson said that he might have had a medical event while driving.
The Palmerston North rescue helicopter transported the driver to Wellington Hospital.
A Wellington Free Ambulance spokesperson said that the patient was listed at a Status One condition – critical.
The patient was being assessed in Wellington Hospital’s emergency department at about 4pm on Sunday.
Police were notified of the crash at 11.20am and closed State Highway 2 from Bidwills Cutting Rd to Waihakeke Rd from 12.05pm.
The road reopened to northbound traffic at 1.25pm.
Southbound drivers faced a 45km detour.
Police diverted traffic down Waihakeke Rd, through Martinborough, and on to State Highway 53, to rejoin State Highway 2 at Featherston.
The detour turned the 17km drive from Ahikouka to Featherston into a 47km drive.
State Highway 2 reopened to southbound traffic from 2.15pm.
