Trapped girl’s mum gives thanks

‘‘We want to thank everyone who helped free dad and the children...’’

The mother of a young girl trapped in a truck cab has thanked those who came to her children’s aid.

The 8-year-old was one of three children in a truck driven by her grandfather that crashed into a power pole, sparking a scrub fire on a remote section of the Napier-Taupo¯ highway just before midnight on Tuesday.

The girl’s legs were trapped under the dashboard of the cab after the impact of the smash toppled a power pole onto the 40 tonne frozen meat truck.

By the time the first emergency services arrived from Taupo¯ , passersby had freed the other two children from the truck, along with their grandfather, who had gone back to help the young girl.

Firefighters used cutting equipment to free the girl while other firefighters protected the truck from the fire burning up the hillside, Taupo¯ Fire Brigade’s Sean McAvinue said.

Rural fire authorities allowed the blaze to burn overnight as it was too dangerous to battle the flames in darkness.

The girl was flown to Hawke’s Bay Hospital, where she is in a stable condition.

The mother, who wanted to remain anonymous, said she was very grateful.

‘‘We want to thank everyone who helped free dad and the children, and get them out of the truck – they did a wonderful job and we are very grateful.’’