Five people, including two children, are in a stable condition following a two-vehicle accident near Lake Tutira yesterday.
The crash victims include a 4-year-old girl and an older woman of unknown age who were transported to Hawke's Bay Hospital in two separate helicopters after being cut out of their light truck by fire crews. A hospital spokeswoman said other victims who presented to medical staff included a 3-year-old boy, a male in his 60s and another older woman.
The 4-year-old child was flown out by the Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter, general manager Ian Wilmot said. The woman was transported also to the region's hospital by a rescue helicopter from Taupo.
"They were called out to what was originally reported as a motor vehicle accident outside Lake Tutira on State Highway 2," Mr Wilmot said. "A light truck collided with a larger dump truck and it looks as though, before the collision, they must have attempted to avoid each other and they almost slipped side to side, kind of thing."
He said following the accident, a larger tow-truck happened to be coming through on the highway.
