Bus leaking diesel causes crash

A bus leaking diesel was blamed for a a road accident which left a man with serious injuries yesterday.

A 63-year old Austrian man was driving a car through Lichfield when it apparently skidded on diesel leaking from an Intercity bus, colliding head-on with another vehicle.

The man had to be cut free and was flown to Waikato Hospital by the Rotorua-based Tenon Rescue Helicopter with has serious chest and leg injuries.

Four other people were taken to Tokoroa Hospital with a variety of injuries.

A diversion was in place around the accident for about an hour.

Inspector Kevin Taylor, who is the road policing manager for the Bay of Plenty, said the bus had a leaking fuel line which caused it to lose a substantial amount of diesel between Putararu and Wairakei.

Until police stopped the bus at Wairakei, the driver was oblivious to the leak, he said.

- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)