Two teenage girls injured after stolen car hits tree in Otumoetai

Emergency servcies at the crash. Photo/George Novak

Two teenage girls trapped after a car reported stolen hit a tree in Bellevue, Tauranga, this morning, remain in Tauranga Hospital, one in a critical condition.

A Tauranga Hospital spokeswoman said one of the two 14-year-old patients, both from Tauranga, remained in a critical condition in the hospital's intensive care unit.

The other was in a stable condition in a paediatrics ward, she said.

The crash happened just before 10am at the intersection of Windsor and Bellevue Rds in Otumoetai.

Senior Sergeant Shannon Clifford earlier said the two girls were taken to Tauranga Hospital, one was in critical condition and the other in moderate condition.

Mr Clifford said the crashed car had been reported stolen, but he did not know when.

A car has hit a tree at the intersection of Windsor Rd and Bellevue Rd. Photo/Google Maps

Early indications and witness accounts suggested road surface and speed appeared to be the main factors in the crash, he said.

A police communications spokeswoman said the Serious Crash Unit was still investigating the exact cause of the crash and inquiries were ongoing.

The road will be closed until about 11am. Photo/George Novak

Residents Christina and Tony, who did not want their full names used, were inside a nearby house when they heard "a really deep bang".

"I thought it was an earthquake," Christina said.

They saw a car "completely embedded" in a tree.

"The whole front of the car has moved to the back pretty much," Tony said.

Meanwhile, Dorne Mason was visiting a friend at her Bellevue Rd home at the time and said the "whole house shook".

"We knew instantly that somebody had hit something. I ran out straight away."

She said that when she got to the intersection she could see smoke coming from the front of the car and heard a female screaming.

"There was somebody in there screaming."

Senior Sergeant Clifford also put out a general safety warning to all drivers about the greasy road conditions today.

"It's drizzle but the roads are wet and slippery and drivers need to take care."