Two smashes on highway
Katikati resident seriously hurt as ute, van collide
Two road crashes have occurred on State Highway 2, south of Katikati, in the past four days.
The highway was closed for about four hours on Sunday after a serious accident in which a car and ute collided about 11.20am near the intersection with Thompsons Track.
A Mitsubishi utility travelling towards Katikati and a Toyota van travelling towards Tauranga collided after one of the vehicles crossed the centreline, Katikati Police Sergeant Steve Hindmarsh said.
The male driver of the Toyota van, an ex-Katikati resident, was airlifted to Waikato Hospital, where he was in a serious condition on Tuesday.
The driver of the other vehicle escaped serious injury.
The Police Serious Crash Team attended and the road was closed for several hours, Hindmarsh said.
Motorists heading to Tauranga were advised by patrols at Paeroa that the road was closed and they could only get as far as Katikati or take the route over the Kaimais.
Inquiries are continuing into the cause of the crash.
A crash on Tuesday morning involved two vehicles on SH2, south of Aongatete.
One of the vehicles had crossed onto the opposite side of the road but the evasive action of the other driver prevented a full head-on collision, Hindmarsh said.
“The vehicles side-swiped each other on their respective passengers sides and spun out,” he said.
“Both vehicles lost front leftwheel assemblies. Fortunately there were no injuries.”
Tauranga Road Policing is dealing with the accident.