Cowan work van rolls and crashes at Coffs Harbour on Harbour Drive

The van with P-plates rolled on a busy Coffs Harbour road trapping the young driver and injuring a passenger - the duo checked out of hospital before police could question them.

Police received reports of a van doing burnouts just moments before it lost control and rolled in a 50km-an-hour zone at Coffs Harbour in the early hours of Saturday, September 17.

The reports from the public at around 2.45am indicated a Toyota Hiace van was doing burnouts at Jordan Esplanade.

“Minutes later, as the van was being driven west on Harbour Drive, it crossed the nature strip and rolled, coming to rest upside down, near the intersection of Dibbs Street,” a NSW Police Force spokesperson said.

“The driver, a 20-year-old Coffs Harbour man, was trapped within the wreckage for an hour before he was released by officers from Fire and Rescue NSW, NSW Ambulance and SES members.”

A 27-year-old Bellingen man, who was a passenger in the two-seater van, had been able to get out by himself and both men were taken to the Coffs Harbour Health Campus.

“Officers attached to Coffs Clarence Police District have since been advised both men left the hospital about 5.15am.”

The van was displaying P-plates according to Ian Horncastle, the Acting Unit Commander of the Coffs Harbour SES.

He said both the male driver and passenger were “very young”.

Three NSW Ambulance crews were also called to the scene.

“A male was trapped by confinement,” a NSW Ambulance spokesperson said.

“Once extricated he was treated for neck and shoulder pain and taken to Coffs Harbour hospital.”

Police investigations are continuing.