Crash driver fights for life

A horrendous car crash on the outskirts of Masterton has left a 58-year-old man fighting for his life in hospital with serious abdominal injuries.

Garry Sheeran, of Masterton, was trapped under live power lines after his Holden Berlina stationwagon struck a traffic island and a power pole, police said.

The incident began near Lakeview School on Te Ore Ore Rd just before 8pm on Wednesday.

Police said the car struck the traffic island then carried on for more than a kilometre before colliding with a concrete power pole on Masterton-Castlepoint Rd.

The collision brought the pole crashing onto the car roof, flattening it nearly to the floor and trapping Mr Sheeran.

The car then veered to the left, wiping out 15m of a post and wire fencing before coming to rest.

Senior Sergeant Carolyn Watson said initial inquiries had revealed the car had been heading east "at high speed" when it hit the traffic island.

It's not known whether alcohol was a factor.

She said the driver was trapped, surrounded by live wires "to within a few inches of his head".

He remained like that until emergency services enlisted the help of a lines crew who cut power to the lines and rendered the car safe enough to begin extracting the driver from the wreckage.

Mr Sheeran was taken by ambulance to Wairarapa Hospital where he was admitted to the high dependency unit.

Late yesterday doctors were planning to transfer Mr Sheeran to Wellington Hospital for further specialist care.

His condition was given as serious.