Hawke's Bay: Truckie stuck in crashed cab while power company makes live lines safe

Emergency services waited to free the trapped driver who remained in the cab until the downed powerlines could be switched off. Photo / Rachel Wise

A truck driver phoned his family, smoked a few cigarettes and played Tetris on his phone while waiting to be freed after he was stuck in his crashed cab while a power company ensured power lines draped over his truck were safe.

State Highway 2 near Waipawa was closed after the accident which left live power lines hanging across the truck and trailer. Hawke's Bay Today understands the driver has minor injuries. He later walked from the cab, to a nearby ambulance after the okay was given to free him.

The man, from Puketapu, told Hawke's Bay Today at the scene the only thing hurt was his "pride".

He "got a hell of a fright" but said he had watched enough rescue programmers on TV to know to stay in the cab away from the power lines, although he said if the truck had caught fire he would have "dived for it".

The first thing he did, while waiting for the all clear from linemen, was to ring his family and let them know he was okay.

He then smoked cigarettes and played Tetris on his phone before police wrenched the door open.

Originally heading from Napier to Hawera, he would now take a few days off.

Sadly, he was told earlier that his older brother had passed away.

Emergency services had been called to the site on Great North Rd, near the intersection with Abbotsford Rd, at 3.40pm on Thursday.

Emergency services had to wait to free the driver who remained in the cab until the downed powerlines were switched off. Photo / Rachel Wise

Two fire trucks, one from Waipawa and one from Waipukurau, are in attendance along with police.

Motorists are asked to avoid the area or find an alternative route while the road is closed. Powerlines have sustained damage during the crash.