Lake Hāwea deputy fire chief Tony Williams said a driver was very lucky to have only incurred bruising after her car almost hit a tree on Newcastle Road this evening (Wednesday November 10).

The woman had swerved to avoid a rabbit on the gravel road and her car ended up in the ditch adjacent to the road, just missing a tree.

“When you’re going down a gravel road and it’s between you and a rabbit, make sure it’s the rabbit,” Tony said. 

“Don’t swerve to avoid rabbits”, says deputy fire chief Tony Williams.

A fire appliance, the Lake Hāwea fire brigade van and two police cars attended the incident.

There were no other vehicles involved.

PHOTOS: Wānaka App