Seven people from two separate crashes were taken to hospital as disruption struck Whangarei's morning commuters.
The first accident happened on Hatea Drive just after 7.30am yesterday morning.
Constable James Gibbings said a vehicle was heading down Hatea Drive towards central Whangarei when it veered left off the road between Deveron St and the Discovery Settlers Hotel and went down the bank.
The male driver was the only person in the vehicle. A St John spokeswoman said he was taken to hospital with serious injuries. Mr Gibbings said the vehicle hit a tree down the bank, which stopped it from going any further.
At edition time yesterday police were yet to speak to the driver of the vehicle to find out what caused the crash.