Crash brings fresh warning over traffic lights

A woman is recovering after a van ploughed into her car at a Hastings intersection.

Hawke's Bay Police are urging drivers to take care after a busy weekend on the roads.

This message comes after a woman was taken to hospital with minor injuries after the car she was in spun into the centre of a Hastings intersection when it was hit by a van.

A van full of seasonal workers from Tonga ploughed into the woman's small black car after she had come to a stop at an intersection on Tomoana Rd while waiting for a green light before turning into Frederick St.

Emergency services were called to the scene just before 11am. No one from the van was injured and no alcohol was involved.

Constable Grant Marshall said the van was travelling in the same direction as the black car and "rear-ended" it when the driver failed to see that the car had stopped.

The van came to a halt on the other side of the intersection when it lodged itself into a nearby power pole.

The normally bustling intersection came to a stand-still as vehicles banked up on either side while glass was swept up and the black car was towed away.

A number of people flooded into the streets immediately after the smash, despite some surprised shop owners reporting they had not heard or seen the incident unfold.

But a nearby bakery worker, Hannah Petrie, said the accident was "quite shocking".
She said: "It was an exceptionally loud crash.

"The van went straight through it [the car] and spun the car around, it must've been going at such a speed.

"It's just so awful that this happened right before Christmas."

Tevita Lata, who is looking after the group of Tongans while they are here, was called to the scene just after the accident.

He was reluctant to comment but said he was trying to find out more information about what happened.

The police officer said the investigation into the crash would be ongoing but as the roads got busier motorists needed to be more vigilant.

Just as emergency services were leaving the scene, a patrol car sped off after a car that ran a red light at that same intersection.

"Hawke's Bay doesn't really want any casualties during the summer period - and no more injuries," Mr Marshall said.

"Just take the time to slow down, stop for traffic lights when they turn orange and red."