Woman may lose foot after freak accident

File photo / NZ Herald

A woman may lose her foot despite seven hours of surgery to save it after a freak accident involving a car and flying pieces of a massive limestone rock in Northland.

Alison Bryant was found lying in a pool of blood in Raumanga Valley Road, Whangarei, about 1.30am on Thursday, after a suspected drink-driver crashed into a one-tonne limestone rock, the Northern Advocate reported.

Police were still trying to determine whether the vehicle hit Ms Bryant or whether she was injured by flying pieces of the rock, which disintegrated after being struck by the vehicle.

Ms Bryant, 22, had her foot operated on at Auckland's Middlemore Hospital about 6.30pm on Thursday, her brother Peter Bryant said.

"It's been a big operation, but it still looks like she might have to have her foot amputated.

Police examined the scene found black tyre marks showing the vehicle's path before it smashed into the rock.

The rock is understood to have hurtled through the air for about 8m before it struck a footpath and broke into three large pieces.

A 28-year-old man will appear in Whangarei District Court next Wednesday charged with failing to stop and ascertain injury and dangerous driving causing injury.

The man also failed a breath test.

- NZPA