A Far North man suffered head injuries and a possible broken leg after the vehicle he was in slammed into a power pole.
The accident occurred about 6.20pm on Tuesday at the corner of Hongi St and De Merle St in Kaikohe. It appeared the people-mover had travelled across the intersection without stopping and struck a concrete power pole on the opposite side
Police are investigating whether alcohol was involved.
Volunteers from the Kaikohe Fire Brigade helped St John Ambulance officers get the injured front-seat-passenger, a Kaikohe man in his 40s or 50s, out of the car. He had head injuries and a suspected broken leg. The four other occupants were uninjured.
The front of the vehicle was wrapped around the power pole, which consisted of two concrete posts bolted together and was only slightly damaged.