A HUNTER family were abruptly woken in the middle of the night when a car lost control, smashing through the wall of their home and hitting their pet dog.
Emergency services were called to Sawyers Gully Road, Sawyers Gully, about 3am on Tuesday August 27 to reports a car had crashed into a house.
Paramedics, police, fire crews, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter and the Cessnock District Rescue Squad were called to the scene.
Police said the Nissan X-trail was travelling west along Sawyers Gully Road but when it neared the intersection of Bathurst Street, the vehicle left the road and went through a fence before crashing into a room at the rear of a house.
"The occupants of the home weren't injured," a police spokesperson said.
"Their pet dog was struck by the vehicle, causing a broken leg."
The driver, a 41-year-old man, was trapped inside the vehicle. The Cessnock District Rescue Squad was able to stabilise the vehicle and remove one of the doors to extricate the driver.
"Our volunteers worked alongside medical personnel to manoeuvre the driver onto a spine board and then carried to the awaiting ambulance," a statement from the rescue squad said.
"Once the person was extricated, our volunteers remained on scene to install structural support to the damaged structure which will remain until repairs can be carried out."
The man was taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment.
Hunter Valley police attended the scene and are investigating the circumstances leading up to the crash.
