Three crashes in 24 hours
Emergency services, including the Kaitaia Fire Brigade, responded to three road crashes in 24 hours from Friday evening, starting with a three-car pile-up on the Pukepoto Straight.
Deputy Chief Fire Officer Ross Beddows said a van that had stopped to turn across the traffic was rear-ended by another vehicle, which in turn was crashed into from behind by a third. All three were travelling towards Pukepoto.
A Ford Ranger and a Toyota Hilux were extensively damaged, as was a quad bikeladen trailer one was towing, most of the occupants of all three vehicles, 16 in all, escaping relatively unscathed, although
Two of the vehicles involved in Friday night’s crash on the Pukepoto Straight.
some suffered what were described as moderate injuries. One woman was flown by rescue helicopter to Whanga¯rei amd later to Auckland with what were believed to be spinal injuries.
On Saturday afternoon a late-model Toyota Hilux left the road at Pukepoto, just west of the school, crashing through a farm
fence and finally coming to halt in a paddock. The sole occupant was taken to Kaitaia Hospital but was not admitted.
Just after 6pm a 4WD, which reportedly pulled out on to the Awanui Straight north of Wireless Rd, was T-boned by a car travelling south. The 4WD came to rest on its roof, but no one was seriously hurt.