According to Senior Sergeant Blair Dalton of Dunedin, the incident occurred around 9am and was believed to be caused by a “medical event” experienced by the driver.
The vehicle hit several road signs before forcing the marathon competitors to scatter for their safety.
Fortunately, despite the potential seriousness of the situation, none of the participants sustained any injuries, Senior Sergeant Dalton confirmed.
He commended the members of the public who promptly came to assist the driver.
“We have received calls from individuals who were in close proximity to the incident, concerned about what had occurred and the well-being of the driver,” he stated.
The driver was evaluated by St John personnel and subsequently transported to Dunedin Hospital in a stable condition for further medical attention.
“Preliminary investigations suggest that this was indeed a medical issue, and it is truly fortunate that there were no injuries resulting from the incident,” Senior Sergeant Dalton added.
“We extend our gratitude to those who rendered aid to the driver following the crash and to those who alerted authorities for assistance.”
