Hectic time for Westpac air rescue crew

A Toyota Hiace van on its side at Dyerville, south of Martinborough, after the driver lost control. He was uninjured in the crash. PHOTO/NZME

A driver and passenger were shaken but uninjured after rolling a people-mover vehicle into a ditch at Dyerville, south of Martinborough, around 2pm yesterday.

Police communications said they had got themselves out of the vehicle by the time emergency services arrived. The cause of the crash was not known.

A tracking chart showing the three missions of the Life Flight Westpac Rescue helicopter yesterday. Two of the missions were to fatal incidents. PHOTO/NZME

Because of the remote nature of the crash, the Life Flight Westpac Rescue Helicopter was dispatched, but it departed without taking anyone on board.

It was an unhappy day for the Westpac rescue helicopter, with three missions and no pickups, owing to the motorcycle fatality in Palliser Bay and another fatality on Akatarawa Rd between Upper Hutt and Waikanae around 3pm.

It was also a long day for the Martinborough Volunteer Fire Brigade, who were out for six hours attending the fatal crash at Palliser Bay, backtracking to the van, then returning to the scene of the fatal.