The driver of a ute that demolished a power pole next to a busy Northland highway allegedly left the scene before emergency services arrived — then asked the motorist who gave him a lift to drop him at his home.
As a result police didn’t have to look long or hard to track the driver down.
The incident occurred about 4.45pm on Monday when the southbound Isuzu ute left State Highway 10 just north of Puketona Junction and collided square-on with a concrete power pole.
The pole fell across the bonnet and cab, causing extensive damage, but the driver was not thought to have been injured.
The crash cut power to 167 households in the Puketona and Oromahoe areas, according to lines company Top Energy.