Car and gas delivery truck collide: Pre-schoolers evacuated from Kerikeri childcare

Car Vs Truck crash on Kapiro Road, north of Kerikeri. Photo / Peter de Graaf

More than two dozen pre-schoolers were evacuated from a childcare centre near Kerikeri after a crash involving a gas delivery truck.

The evacuation was a precaution after a collision next to Nurture by Nature on Kapiro Rd about 10.50am on Wednesday.

Constable Ray Iwashita, of Mid North police, said it appeared a vehicle had attempted to overtake a gas delivery truck as it was turning in to a driveway.

Both vehicles came to rest on the roadside, narrowly missing a power pole.

Fortunately the drivers suffered only minor injuries, Iwashita said.

They were treated at the scene by St John Ambulance.

Kerikeri Fire Brigade had checked the gas cylinders on the delivery truck and found no leaks.

The investigation was continuing.

Iwashita urged drivers to take care when overtaking on rural residential roads.

''There's trucks, fruitpickers and residents coming and going all the time,'' he said.

It is understood the 28 children at Nurture by Nature were taken to the end of the property furthest form the road.

The speed limit on Kapiro Rd is 100km/h.

Some residents have campaigned long and hard for reduced speeds.

The limit on Waipapa Rd, which also runs off State Highway 10 north of Kerikeri and has a similar mix of residential, horticultural and industrial properties, is 80km/h.

After a spate of serious crashes in 2017 one Kapiro Rd resident went as far as replacing the speed limit signs with 80km/h signs she had made herself. They were promptly removed.

The Far North District Council has previously said 100km/h is appropriate for Kapiro Rd, but speed limits in the Kerikeri area are due to be reviewed again later this year.