Sleeping man run over, face burned

WHANGAREI - A sleeping man's face was burned by an exhaust pipe when he was run over at Kai Iwi Lakes, about 35km northwest of Dargaville.

The man had not been noticed by a motorist, who decided to move his car closer to his camp about 11pm on Saturday.

The car ran over the sleeping man and then stopped with its exhaust pipe resting on his head, causing serious burns to his face, an ear, an eye and his hands.

Two paramedics at the camp site provided first aid until an ambulance arrived.

The man was taken to Dargaville Hospital, then to Whangarei Hospital, and on Sunday was transferred to Auckland's Middlemore Hospital to have his facial burns treated.

Dargaville police Sergeant Jonathon Tier said a breath test revealed the car's driver had a breath-alcohol level of 718 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath, well over the legal limit. Charges were likely to follow, Mr Tier said.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE