The man was Tasered only once before being transported to Wellington Hospital by the Life Flight Westpac Rescue helicopter, which arrived at the scene about 7pm.
It was unclear if alcohol or drugs were involved, but the crash was under investigation. Charges could be laid, Mr Osland said.
Police, Wellington Free Ambulance and a crew of six from the Martinborough Fire Brigade also attended.
Martinborough fire chief Bill Butzbach said both vehicles were travelling on Lake Ferry Rd towards Martinborough, when they collided "nose to tail" just before the Pouawha Rd intersection.
The force of the impact pushed the car in front "some distance" down Lake Ferry Rd, before it eventually hit the crash barrier.
The utility's driver "continued on his path" down Lake Ferry Rd, before straying to the other side of the road and driving into a ditch.
Mr Butzbach said the ute driver had been disoriented, and left the scene shortly before fire crews arrived.
"His head had hit the front windscreen - left a bit of a dent," Mr Butzbach said.
"He must have been a bit dazed and confused, so he wandered off."
The man was described as having "serious" head and leg injuries.
The occupants of the front car, a young couple, were treated for whiplash at the scene.
A Wellington Fire Communications spokesman said there had been "an altercation" between the drivers, although Mr Butzbach said he had not heard that.
"I think the [front] driver was a bit agitated, which is understandable."
Mr Butzbach said his small crew spent four hours cleaning up debris and spilled fluids from the scene.
"There was broken glass and petrol everywhere. It was a high speed impact - both cars would be write-offs, I'd say."
Police later called in two tow trucks to remove the vehicles.
A Wellington Hospital spokesman confirmed the ute driver was in a stable condition as at 4pm on Sunday.
