Lucky crash escape
A man who hit a power pole beside State Highway 12, near Omanaia, while driving home from a party was "a very lucky man", his rescuers say. The crash, about 4.20am on Monday, spun the car 180 degrees and left the driver with only a suspected broken arm. The pole remained upright but had to be replaced. Alcohol was thought to have been a factor.
Woman burned
A Kawakawa woman suffered burns to a hand and one foot after a pot of oil caught fire on the stove at her North Rd home on Monday. Kawakawa Fire Brigade station officer Alistair Leitch said the woman was alerted by a smoke alarm about 7.30pm and did the right thing by putting a lid on the pot, rather than throwing water on it. However she then tried to carry it outside, spilling oil on herself in the process. She was taken to Bay of Islands Hospital by St John Ambulance. Her quick response prevented damage to the kitchen. Mr Leitch was pleased the house had working smoke alarms but the incident was a reminder to "keep looking when you're cooking".
Gorge closed
