A man trapped in his ute after crashing into a power pole was freed by fire fighters using the jaws of life this morning.
The ute hit a pole on Mikkelsen Rd, Waihou, just after 4am.
"The pole was lying across the vehicle and there was a person partially trapped inside the ute," a fire spokesman said.
Te Aroha brigade fire fighters on the scene used jaws of life equipment to cut the man free after power in the area was isolated.
The Westpac Rescue helicopter flew him to hospital.
