A loud bang on Kokotau Rd outside Parkvale Mushrooms on Sunday morning signalled the start of an hour-long and careful extrication of a trapped motorist following a two-car collision.
Parkvale workers rushed outside to find a 4x4, towing a trailer loaded with a quadbike and deer carcasses, and a Toyota Spacio had collided head-on shortly after 11am.
The female driver of the Spacio was trapped with torso and leg injuries, but was conscious and talking while Carterton and Greytown fire crews cut away both doors on her side so that Wellington Free Ambulance paramedics could reach her.
A dog, which was travelling with her, was unharmed.
An early decision was made to call Life Flight for the Westpac Rescue helicopter, which landed in a field beside the road.