Driver found 60m from rolled 4WD

Sergeant Chris Megaw at the point where the driver landed. The other officers are standing where the vehicle stopped. Photo / Lynda Feringa

A man was seriously hurt when he was thrown 60 metres from his crashed four wheel-drive.

The 38-year-old Carterton man was the only occupant of the vehicle which crashed through a fence into a paddock then rolled in Wairarapa on Tuesday night.

He was found unconscious about 60m from where the vehicle came to rest.

The last few riders of a group taking part in a road race were heading toward Martinborough and heard a noise behind them.

It wasn't until the cyclists came by on the second lap of the race that they realised it was a crash.

Carterton fire chief Wayne Robinson said firefighters helped ambulance officers to stabilise the man before he was flown to Wellington.

Yesterday afternoon the man was described as being in a serious condition.

It is believed the driver had returned from living in Australia and had been living with family in Carterton.