An elderly couple were lucky to escape with only minor injuries after apparently attempting a U-turn on State Highway 1 in front of a truck and trailer.
The smash occurred at 1pm on Monday at the Awanui Straight about 2km north of Kaitaia. It is believed the camper bus had been heading north when it pulled over to the side of the road before allegedly executing a U-turn in the path of a northbound Kaitaia Transport carrier.
The camper was "T-boned right in the middle" and shunted into a drain on the opposite side of the road, Kaitaia Fire Brigade senior station officer Ross Beddows said.
The couple, who were believed to be holidaying New Zealanders, were badly shaken but their injuries appeared to be minor. Their camper bus, however, was "absolutely written off" and their belongings strewn over a wide area. The cab of the truck was badly damaged but the driver had only minor injuries.
One lane was blocked causing extensive delays between Kaitaia and Awanui. Firefighters helped with traffic control and cleaning up spilt diesel and battery acid.
