Truck driver taken to hospital with moderate injuries after his vehicle rolls

The Wellington based Westpac Rescue Helicopter has transported a truck
driver with moderate injuries after his truck rolled on SH1 Ohau Point,
about 25 km north of Kaikoura, late this afternoon.

The helicopter, with a Wellington Free Ambulance paramedic onboard, was
called to the accident at approximately 4.30pm today.

On our arrival the driver had been removed from the wreckage of his
vehicle and was being attended to by Kaikoura St John Ambulance staff
and a local doctor, with the assistance of Fire Service personnel.

The 52 year old driver was transported by helicopter to the Wellington
Hospital Emergency department with moderate facial and shoulder
injuries. He is currently undergoing further tests to rule out any
possible spinal injuries.

"As we understand it the driver was removed from the wrecked cab of his
truck by passing motorists and taken to the road - a distance of about
20 meters" says helicopter crewman Colin Larsen. "We believe that the
truck rolled about 3 times when it left the road and went down an
embankment, before coming to rest upright at the waters edge" he said.
"The driver appears to have been very lucky to escape serious injury".

The truck was carrying a load of timber. No other vehicles were involved
in the accident.

Photos of the scene are attached, please credit Lifeflight.org.nz.

(Note: in both pictures the truck can be seen at the bottom left of the
picture, the damage to the cab was done as a result the accident, not by
any extrication process.).