A 6-year-old girl was among three people injured when a ute and an orchard sprayer collided near Kerikeri.
The accident occurred on Kapiro Rd, off State Highway 10, just before 6pm on Thursday. Both vehicles ended up on the wrong side of the road. The ute was significantly damaged, police say.
Three people in the ute - a man, a woman and the girl - were taken to Bay of Islands Hospital in Kawakawa by St John Ambulance.
Their injuries included suspected fractures and bruising. The child was knocked unconscious and originally assessed as being in a serious condition. That was later downgraded to moderate. The sprayer driver was uninjured.
Inspector Al Symonds, of Kerikeri police, said the investigation was continuing and it appeared the orchard sprayer was turning right into a Kerifresh depot as the ute passed. It was possible the driver of ute had not seen the sprayer because it was lower than other vehicles. However, in a rural area like Kerikeri, drivers need to be alert to sprayers, tractors and stock trucks, and pass them with caution, he said.
