Teen's hour-long ordeal trapped under truck

By KELLY MAKIHA in Rotorua
Emergency service workers say it is a miracle no one was killed when a truck carrying 10 young people near Murupara flipped.

A 16-year-old was trapped under the truck for about an hour while the fire service from Murupara and Rotorua worked to free him from the wreckage.

Police say an 18-year-old woman, who does not have a driver's licence, is likely to face charges after the Isuzu truck she was driving lost control on Kiorenui Rd, a forestry road near Murupara, just after 5pm on Saturday.

Constable Steve Burborough said the truck lost control when it left tarseal and hit gravel.

There were 10 people in the truck, including several on the back.

The 16-year-old boy, who was on the truck's tray, had his leg wedged between the ground and the cab.

Rotorua Fire Service senior station officer Jim Prescott said hydraulic rams were used to lift the truck off the teenager. Rescuers then dug away the ground from around his leg to enable them to pull him free.

As well as injuries to his leg he had suspected neck and spinal injuries. His condition was reported to be stable.

The Tenon Rescue Helicopter flew him to Rotorua Hospital. Mr Prescott said the boy was lucky the truck landed on the ground and not the sealed surface.

"The sight would bring a tear to your glass eye ... If it had been on the tarseal he would have lost his leg."

Another teenager involved in the crash was taken by St John Ambulance to Rotorua Hospital with minor injuries. The other passengers suffered only cuts and bruises.

Mr Burborough said the police were still investigating the crash.