Two drivers were seriously injured when their cars collided near the intersection with Belk Rd on SH29 at Tauriko yesterday.
The crash, which occurred shortly after 11am on a sharp left-hand bend, left a 63-year-old Papamoa woman with serious injuries to her face, chest and abdomen. A 37-year-old Auckland man suffered serious head injuries. The sole occupants of their vehicles were both in a serious but stable condition in Tauranga Hospital's intensive care unit this morning.
State Highway 29 was closed for 2 1/2 hours and traffic was diverted through Poripori, Crawford and Wairoa roads until 1.35pm. Traffic banked up for miles as the ripple effect of the crash took hold around the district.
Western Bay road policing unit head Senior Sergeant Ian Campion said preliminary investigations indicated the Holden driven by the male driver had lost control on the corner, crossing the centre-line into the path of the oncoming vehicle.
Mr Campion said he believed speed was a contributing factor in the crash.
Tauranga Fire Service Senior Station Officer Phil Price said two fire crews arrived at the scene moments ahead of ambulance staff.
Mr Price said the male driver was trapped inside his car which was on its side. He was pinned by the steering wheel and was hanging from his seat belt.
The Holden had to be stabilised and firmly braced to stop it rolling over while the rescue took place, he said.
Firefighters using cutting gear removed the roof and flattened down the sides of the vehicle to remove the injured man.
Lower Kaimai man Kelvin Schedewy was driving two cars behind the woman's vehicle. He and another driver ran to the crashed vehicles to check the drivers, while his partner rang 111.
A passing motorist, a truck driver involved with the Waihi Volunteer Fire Brigade, stopped to help. A woman believed to be nurse joined them and also gave first aid.
Within 5-10 minutes, other emergency services arrived and took charge.
Mr Schedewy said the site was a death trap area, especially for people who didn't know it well.
Tauriko crash leaves 2 seriously injured
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