Lucky escape for Kiwi couple whose car smashed into concrete bridge near Hanmer

  • 20/04/2018
Emergency services attended the crash at around 4.08am on Friday.
Emergency services attended the crash at around 4.08am on Friday. Photo credit: Supplied

The passengers of a car that smashed head on into a concrete bridge near Hanmer Springs are lucky to be alive, a paramedic says. 

A woman, 38, had to be cut out of the car after it collided into the Percival River Bridge at high speed at around 4am on Friday.

She suffered a spinal injury, multiple arm fractures and cuts to the head.

Lucky escape for Kiwi couple whose car smashed into concrete bridge near Hanmer
Photo credit: Supplied

The male passenger, who got himself out of the car, had a fractured shoulder and ribs, and cuts to the head. 

The pair, who are not tourists and live in top of the South Island, were helicoptered to Christchurch Hospital and are now in stable conditions. 

Lucky escape for Kiwi couple whose car smashed into concrete bridge near Hanmer
Photo credit: Supplied

While the pair's injuries weren't life threatening, Westpac Rescue Helicopter paramedic crew chief Rick Knight says they are lucky to be alive.

"Absolutely, very lucky, extremely. If it had hit side on or on the passenger side there would have been fatalities."

He says the vehicle is an "absolute right off".

Emergency services attended the crash and the cause is being investigated.

Newshub.