Gloriavale leader Peter Righteous is in hospital with internal injuries following a car crash. Photo: Stuff / Joanne Naish
A senior leader of the Gloriavale community was seriously injured after the car he and two other people were in crashed into a creek on the South Island's West Coast.
Stuff understands Peter Righteous, who was a passenger in the vehicle, was flown to Wellington Hospital following the incident, where he was treated for internal injuries
The crash happened shortly after 3.30pm on Saturday on Nelson Creek-Bell Hill Rd, Hochstetter, inland from Greymouth on the West Coast, about 20 minutes from the Christian community.
The driver and another passenger were taken to hospital to be checked over.
The crash involved a single car which left the road, police said.
A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesperson said the car left the road and ended up in a creek, but that when crews found it those inside were already out.
A Gloriavale member would not confirm that Righteous was involved in the crash and seriously injured, but sources close to the community say he was.
Righteous, a senior leader or servant, defended the community's way of life during a 2022 Employment Court case that considered whether Gloriavale members are employees or volunteers.
The trio were involved in the crash as they returned from Greymouth, where they had been at a craft fair at Greymouth High School to raise money to tackle multiple sclerosis.
They were selling baked good, dolls, doing face painting and running a cafe during the event.
Traffic management was in place for a time following the crash.
- This story was first published by Stuff.