Wife accidentally runs over husband - twice

A man whose wife ran over him twice in a four-wheel-drive has been flown to hospital with head, chest and back injuries.

Earthmoving contractor Terry Telford, 69, was run over yesterday morning when his wife Sandy reversed the vehicle down their long driveway near Opoutama, in northern Hawke's Bay.

Lowe Corporation rescue helicopter marketing manager Louise Harvey said it appeared Mrs Telford, not realising what had happened, then drove forward, running over her husband again.

He suffered moderate head, chest and back injuries.

Senior Sergeant Tony Bates, of Wairoa police, said the drive was thickly gravelled, which may have reduced the impact.

The vehicle was a 4WD but not a large one, he said.

"His wife was distraught and we have not interviewed her yet. We are treating it as an accident."

St John Ambulance district operations manager Stephen Smith said: "The victim was conscious and talking, with moderate injuries. He was taken by ambulance to Mahia."

The rescue helicopter picked Mr Telford up from the landing strip at Mahia and flew him, together with his wife, to Hawke's Bay Hospital in Hastings, where he was in a stable condition last night.

A family friend said the Telfords lived in an isolated area near Blacks Beach, on the way to Mahia. "Terry's an engineer and he works from home except when he's on the bulldozer."

Neighbours said the Telfords were well known in the area.

- © Fairfax NZ News