Women, baby hurt in crash at crossroads

Firefighters looked after an infant inside a fire truck after a car and Fonterra tanker collided in South Taranaki.

The collision happened at the intersection of Auroa and Eltham roads, Awatuna, about 8.20am yesterday, Fire and Emergency New Zealand shift manager Mike Wanoa said.

Firefighters from Kaponga and Opunake attended along with the Taranaki Community Rescue Helicopter, two ambulances and six police cars.

Kaponga chief fire officer Jason Hurley said there were two women and an infant in the car.

Hurley said the baby appeared to only have minor injuries and was kept warm inside the fire truck because of the freezing wind.

The two women had to be cut from the car and were treated by paramedics, Hurley said.

Sergeant Graeme Jones said a female driver was flown to Taranaki Base Hospital.

The baby and the passenger were taken to hospital by ambulance for assessment.

The truck driver was shaken but uninjured and was being supported by Fonterra staff, he said.

Police are investigating the cause of the crash.

‘‘This is a timely reminder to drivers at intersections to look twice, even three times,’’ Jones said.

Traffic was diverted from Eltham Rd by fire crew members while the road was blocked following the crash.