Tree-crash driver 'within inches' of losing her life

MIRACLE: A woman is lucky to survive a crash after two tree branches smashed through her front windscreen. Photo/supplied

A woman is lucky to be alive after her car crashed into a fallen tree, sending two branches smashing through her front windscreen, within centimetres of her face and body.

One of the branches smashed through so hard, it pierced the woman's driver's seat and went out the other side while the other branch wrapped around the dashboard and exited out a side window.

The crash, on State Highway 33 near Okere Falls, has left local emergency services gobsmacked she survived, with one police officer saying the woman "came within inches of her life, literally".

The woman, a 70-year-old from Tauranga who commutes to Rotorua each day to work, hit a tree that had fallen on the main highway near the Maniatutu Rd intersection just after 6.30am today.

LUCKY: A branch that smashed through the front windscreen wrapped around the dashboard. PHOTO/SUPPLIED 140617xx4.JPG

Senior Constable Regan Framp of the Rotorua police traffic unit said police and fire staff were on their way to the scene after a member of the public called to say a tree had fallen and was partially blocking the main highway.

"The Fire Service got there first and as they turned up, they heard a loud bang behind them, which was the lady running into the tree."

SMASH: A branch that went through the front windscreen smashed through the side window. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Mr Framp said the woman suffered a cut to her hand and had a sore rib, which was possibly from one of the branches ricocheting off her body and through her seat.

He said she was confused and in a lot of shock and couldn't remember any of the details of how it happened.

A large branch flew through the front window and wedged into the driver's seat. Photo/supplied

She was taken to Rotorua Hospital but was released this morning and driven home to Tauranga by her boss, he said.

"She is so lucky. I took one look at it and said I'm so surprised this is not a fatal crash."