Driver hospitalised after crashing at Ruapuna raceway

A man has been hospitalised crashing at high-speed at Ruapuna Raceway.

A police spokesman told Chris Lynch Media the vehicle collided with a wall around 10:35am.

Dave Westgarth, who was at the track and witnessed the crash, said the driver was “not in a serious condition unless observation is classed as serious.

“The driver was unconscious for some time and has suspected concussion and taken to hospital for observation only.”

Westgarth, said an OSCAR car, the Ford Sierra went into the wall at the carousel, after a suspected mechanical failure, spun and took most of the impact on the driver’s side.

He said the driver was unconscious for a while but was awake when transferred to hospital by ambulance.

“Officials on track had the incident cleared and race restarted before emergency services arrived.”

A St John spokesman said they responded with an ambulance and a rapid response unit to the scene.

One patient was transported to Christchurch hospital in a serious condition the St John spokesman said.