Driver may lose arm 'after ignoring pleas'

Jamie Morton | 9th February 2010

Surgeons may amputate the arm of a Carterton man who ignored pleas not to get behind the wheel before rolling his car on Sunday night.

The 50-year-old man had been drinking at a wedding reception near Carterton and had been asked to leave, Masterton Police Sergeant Carolyn Watson said.

But when the wedding guests tried to stop the man from driving he "became aggressive" and drove off down Ahiaruhe Road at about 6pm.

He made it only as far as a narrow bend in the road a short distance from the venue, where his car hit a bank and rolled on to its roof, pinning his arm beneath it.

He was forced to wait in agony for about 30 minutes as fire crews rushed to free his arm using airbags and stabilisers.

"He was in a fair bit of pain, with quite a severe injury to his arm. He had lost a lot of blood," Carterton fire chief Wayne Robinson said.

His crew then used the jaws of life to extricate him from the vehicle, before the waiting Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service flew him directly to Wellington Hospital.

Ms Watson said paramedics initially classed the patient as Status 2, meaning he was in a serious condition and his life was potentially threatened.

The man was yesterday described as being in a stable condition but faced the possibility of losing his arm.

Police had undertaken blood tests and alcohol was believed to be a "significant factor" in the crash, Ms Watson said.

"Police are frustrated people are still getting behind the wheel after drinking, and we're appealing for drivers to be more responsible and consider the impact of drink-driving on other road users and themselves," she said.

It was the second time in past days the rescue helicopter had been scrambled to Wairarapa.

The helicopter, with a Wellington Free Ambulance paramedic on board, was called at 2pm on Friday to Te Awaiti on the South Wairarapa coast, where a man fell from his balcony.

Crewman Colin Larsen said the helicopter crew were able to land at a neighbouring property and then directed to the patient's house 100 metres up the road.

"As we understand it the man was leaning on the railing of the balcony when it gave way," Mr Larsen said.

"He has fallen approximately three metres and appears to taken the brunt of the fall on his head and shoulders."

He was flown to Wellington Hospital with head, back and rib injuries.