Man cut from wreckage after Canvastown crash

Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter

CRASH SCENE: Emergency services workers attend the scene of the crash near Canvastown last night.

A 44-year-old Wellington man had to be cut from his car after it struck a tree near Canvastown and rolled several times.

The man was the sole occupant of the car, which ended up on its roof on State Highway 6 about 7pm last night.

St John team manager Gary Tobin said he was treated at the scene by St John ambulance crews from Havelock and Blenheim, and flown to Nelson Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

''A fire crew was there to cut this guy out of his car, which had rolled several times. He sustained life-threatening injuries to his head, spine, and chest,'' he said.

The man was also treated by the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter's onboard St John Intensive Care Paramedic.

Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter duty pilot Jarrod Colbourne said the man was heading from Nelson toward Havelock when the crash happened.

He said the road was wet, and the rescue helicopter had to fly in via the Whangamoa and Rai saddles because of low cloud in the area.

- © Fairfax NZ News