Man trapped as car rolls down 150m bank

Cromwell man is lucky to be alive after rolling his vehicle 150m down a bank on rugged Nevis Rd, and being trapped in the crushed car for several hours before managing to alert emergency services.

The 24-year-old man is being treated in Dunedin Hospital for moderate injuries after being flown by helicopter from the crash site.

Constable John Makin, of Cromwell, said the man was travelling alone down the steep road towards Bannockburn when his 4WD Toyota Land Cruiser left the road and rolled down a moderately-steep embankment.

Const Makin said the incident occurred between 6.30am and 10.30am, when emergency services were first called.

"He may have been trapped in the car for hours - he was very cold when we got to him, put it that way. He's lucky to be alive," he said.

Two fire appliances and firefighters attended the scene, as well as ambulance staff, a local doctor, and police.

The man was treated by medical staff before being put on a stretcher and taken from the crashed vehicle's resting place, which was about 150m below road level.

Const Makin said the entire operation took about an hour, which was remarkably fast considering the site conditions.

"Local farmers also helped us out because the road was quite muddy, and no normal cars could get up. It had been raining on and off during the night and was very cold," he said.

There was a possibility alcohol was a factor in the crash, and police were awaiting blood toxicology results which could take a few weeks, Const Makin said.

The man had yet to be interviewed about the incident by police.

His vehicle remained at the bottom of the embankment "like a tomb", Const Makin said.

rosie.manins@odt.co.nz