BY IAN CROUCH
Emergency services have been called to a serious crash at Shortland.
An elderly man drove into the Metro service station on Sandgate Road just before 9.30am on Wednesday, crashing into a fuel pump.
The service station attendant quickly shut off the bowsers and firefighters and paramedics arrived a short time later.
Crews have contained a small fuel leak while paramedics treated the man in his car before taking him to hospital for observation.
The crash caused extensive damage to a fuel pump, however Newcastle Fire Command says the situation is in hand.
