The Kaimai Range was closed for about two hours after a collision between a van and a truck on State Highway 29 near the summit about 3pm. Photo / Andrew Warner
The Kaimai Range was closed for about two hours after a collision between a van and a truck on State Highway 29 near the summit about 3pm. Photo / Andrew Warner
A serious car crash on the Kaimai Range and a chemical spill in Tauranga closed two busy roads in the Western Bay yesterday - causing significant delays.
The Kaimai Range was closed for about two hours after a collision between a van and a truck on State Highway 29 near the summit of the Kaimai Range about 3pm.
The driver of the van was taken to hospital in serious condition after being cut out of the vehicle.
A Tauranga St John spokesman said the 19-year-old man was taken to hospital with leg injuries.
The Matamata Fire Brigade attended the crash and had to cut the 19-year-old out of the van, a fire northern communications spokesman said. Tauranga Fire Brigade was also dispatched.
"The van appeared to have spun around after the crash. The front of it is completely crushed."
The van appeared to be heading up the hill towards Matamata when the crash happened near the summit, he said.
RIGHT: A group of shops on Cameron Rd between 16th and 17th Avenues were closed yesterday afternoon after a small amount of potassium cyanide was dropped.PHOTO/GEORGE NOVAK
The road was reopened about 5pm.
Earlier, emergency services were called to a dental laboratory temporarily housed in a group of shops on Cameron Rd between 16th and 17th Avenues yesterday afternoon after a small amount of potassium cyanide was dropped.
The north-bound lanes of Cameron Rd outside this area were also shut for most of the afternoon, with detours through 17th Avenue.
Bay of Plenty Fire Service area manager Murray Binning said he understood the person who dropped the chemical had been taken to hospital for medical checks.
The person was one of two occupants in the building who self-evacuated.
He said the dental laboratory was in the premises temporarily before it moved into a new building.
"Cyanide in its pure, undiluted form is a very hazardous and dangerous chemical. It turned out to be reasonably diluted, but we didn't find that out until after the fact.
Firefighters involved in the Avenues chemical spill were cleaned in the decontamination showers. Photo / George Novak
Two firefighters were sent into the building wearing special gas suits to provide maximum protection, Mr Binning said.
The two men cleaned up the spill and the materials involved in the spill. After advice from specialists, the area was diluted with the appropriate agents. The firefighters then left the building and were decontaminated in the decontamination showers.
Mr Binning said the clean up had finished by about 4pm. He believed a small number of people in a neighbouring building had also self-evacuated.
Kaimai Range crashes
January to August 2014: Two fatal crashes, three deaths. There were also three serious crashes, with seven serious casualties. Total 2013: Three fatal crashes, two serious crashes, with two serious casualties Total road crashes in Western Bay for 2014: 14 crashes and 16 deaths.
