Tanker hits car after falling from truck

St John paramedics attend to the injured motorist while police talk to witnesses after a water tank flew off the back of a truck and on to a car at Oakleigh.Photo / John Stone

An elderly driver was treated for minor injuries after a water tanker on board a truck and trailer fell off and rammed into her car.

The accident happened on State Highway One at Oakleigh, 14km south of Whangarei, about 3.30pm yesterday.

Fire appliances from Whangarei, Ruakaka and Portland, as well as police and St John paramedics, attended the callout and the injured driver, believed to be in her 70s, was treated at the scene.

A student of Huanui College travelling in a bus behind the car saw the water tank just as it rebounded off the car bonnet and on to the road before being blown into nearby mangroves. "Our bus driver slammed on the brakes and went to help the driver of the car while we stayed in the bus," said the student.

Traffic was not interrupted while emergency services were at the scene.

Meanwhile, a man on his way to first aid training discovered a cyclist who was hit by a car lying on the road in Whangarei.

A man in his late 20s was cycling along Rust Ave towards Bank St when he pulled out and collided with a car he had not seen coming at about 8.45am yesterday.

Police spokeswoman Sarah Kennett said the cyclist received minor shoulder injuries. The driver of the car was shocked, but unhurt.

A man was on his way to a Red Cross first aid training course when he saw the incident and thought it was part of his training.

"I pulled in there and saw him lying on the ground ... this definitely highlights the importance of first aid training. We came down and gave him a couple of blankets."