Thread: Lets See The Transport havn a Oops moment

survived?

Originally Posted by smidey

survived?

Yes

Shocks kept a man alive after he drove off a steep bank, crawled from the wreckage and dragged himself along an electric fence to find help, a friend believes.

The car he was driving was completely mangled after it missed a corner on Masterton-Castlepoint Rd 15 minutes east of Masterton early on Saturday, went through a fence, rolled about 100 metres down a steep bank, and stopped on its roof.

A friend, who asked not to be named, said she and others couldn't believe he had emerged from the wreckage alive.

"Everyone thought he was dead... he's got nine lives, that boy," she said. He had been wearing a seat belt.

Wairarapa police senior sergeant Jymahl Glassey said the man, the car's sole occupant, was hospitalised with moderate injuries and that speed and alcohol were possible factors in the crash. An investigation was continuing.

However the friend said the man had not been drinking, did not speed and knew the road well. He had been working long hours and may have fallen asleep at the wheel, she said.

Speaking at the scene as workers removed the wreckage this afternoon, she said the accident happened about 1.30am on Saturday when the man appeared to have gone straight instead of turning, smashing through a sign warning of a sharp bend, and rolling down the slope.

Bleeding heavily from several bad cuts but, incredibly, with no broken bones, he passed out for a while before struggling out the back door and grabbing a nearby electric fence, she said.

"We think that's what kept him alive – the shocks ... It's hard to believe anyone could survive that," she said of the crash.

Over the next four hours he made his way along the electric fence, eventually reaching the road at about 5.30am and flagging down a passing car.

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She was told he was close to death by the time he reached Wairarapa Hospital.

"He's that kind of guy, he's a tough guy. He was fighting, determined to survive ... we're just glad he's still here."

He had since been discharged from hospital and was recovering well, she said.

The man did not respond to a request for comment.