Serious crash closes highway for five hours

Police and firefighters survey the wreckage of a car involved in a crash on Kamo bypass. PHOTO/ Michael Cunningham

A serious crash closed a section of State Highway 1 in Northland for five hours as police surveyed the scene and cleared the debris.

Traffic headed for work and school started to back up on SH1 and through the city following the collision between a car and truck about 8.50am yesterday.A woman who had to be cut from the driver's seat of a vehicle by firefighters remained in a critical condition in Whangarei Hospital late yesterday.

Police, fire and St John workers were called to the crash on Kamo Bypass, about 100m south of the intersection with Great North Rd.

A female driver was cut free by firefighters from this car. PHOTO/Michael Cunningham

Traffic diversions were put in place with motorists being diverted through Kamo.
Northland police Highway Patrol Sergeant Lance Goulsbro said a car heading towards Whangarei and a northbound truck collided.

The female driver had two school-age girls in the vehicle, who were both taken to hospital with serious and moderate injuries.

The truck veered off the road and stopped on a grass verge. The driver received bruising to his legs.

Firefighters had to use cutting equipment to remove parts of the car doors to free the female driver from the extensively damaged vehicle.

A serious crash investigator was at the scene as was a specialist police member of the commercial vehicle investigation unit.

The road was cleared and opened about 2.15pm.