Man trapped after elderly driver crashes

DON SCOTT/The Press

FREE AT LAST: A man who was trapped under his sport utility vehicle at the Bush Inn Centre car park in Upper Riccarton is taken away by ambulance staff.

A Christchurch man spent an hour trapped under his vehicle at a shopping mall car park after a "bizarre" accident.

Constable Paul Beaver said the man, in his 40s, was shunted under his sport utility vehicle after an elderly woman driver crashed into a tree next to where he was standing about 2pm at the Bush Inn Centre in Upper Riccarton.

"It appears the driver accidentally accelerated and crashed into the tree," Beaver said.

"I'm not sure how the man got under the truck.

"He was out of the vehicle squatting down at the time."

The impact caused the tree to lean at a 45-degree angle, blocking emergency services from reaching the injured man.

"It's another of the bizarre ones," Beaver said.

The Fire Service cut down the tree and jacked the vehicle up to allow St John Ambulance officers to take the man to Christchurch Hospital with back injuries.

The woman was taken to hospital with several injuries, including a suspected broken arm and other fractures.

Police have yet to decide whether charges will be laid.

The injured man's family declined to comment last night.

- © Fairfax NZ News