Serious crashes leave 10 hurt in grim day on roads
At least 10 people have been hurt, one critically and three seriously, after five serious crashes on Waikato and Bay of Plenty roads yesterday.
A person was reportedly injured after a car struck a tree and then a lamp post on Old Taupo Rd near Tokoroa, just after 6pm.
The person was out of the car, but it was unclear how seriously they were hurt, a police spokeswoman said.
Live wires were lying on top of the car, which was on its side, Northern fire service communications shift manager Jaron Phillips said.
Earlier in the day, a man was seriously hurt when his car left a road and crashed down a bank west of Turangi.
The Waikato Westpac Res- cue Helicopter flew the man to Waikato Hospital.
He sustained “multiple injuries” of a “time-critical nature”, a rescue chopper spokeswoman said.
A critically injured person had to be cut from their vehicle by firefighters after a car collided with a truck in Waihi about 1.50pm.
Emergency vehicles and a helicopter were called to the scene on Martin Rd and the person was airlifted to hospital.
The Serious Crash Unit and Commercial Vehicle Investigation Unit were investigating the crash.
Seven people were hurt in a three-car crash on State Highway 1 in South Waikato, about 2.15pm.
Two people, one with serious injuries and another in a moderate condition, were taken to hospital by ambulance, a St John ambulance spokeswoman said. Five others had minor injuries.
Emergency services were at the scene about 2.45pm, a police spokeswoman said.
The crash happened near Karapiro, about 1km west of the State Highway 29 turn-off to Tauranga.
A 22-year-old man was flown to Waikato Hospital in serious condition after his ute hit a power pole near Reporoa in the Bay of Plenty, about 8.30am.
A hospital spokeswoman said the man was serious but stable.