Driver seriously injured after ute rolls

A man suffered serious injuries when a vehicle rolled on him near Tokoroa late last night.

The single-vehicle crash happened about 11.30pm, 2km north of Tokoroa on State Highway 1.

The 4WD the 35-year-old Tirau man was driving failed to take a bend and rolled, said Senior Sergeant Lincoln Sycamore of Tokoroa police.

The man was thrown from the vehicle which ended up on top of him.

Mr Sycamore said alcohol was not believed to be a factor, but the indications were that the man was not wearing his seatbelt.

"In some instances, the message around seatbelts is not getting through and police want to remind motorists that any offences detected will be strictly enforced. Simply put, seatbelts save lives," he said.

The Baytrust rescue helicopter flew the man to Waikato Hospital where his condition was described as critical.

- NZPA