Auckland bus ploughs into cars in peak-hour traffic

The scene of a bus crash in Greenlane which caused a several car pile-up. Photo / Richard Robinson

Two people have been taken to hospital after a bus crashed into a line of cars on Greenlane's Wheturangi Road in Auckland this morning.

The bus appeared to have rear-ended a line of about six cars at about 8.30 am during rush hour, Inspector Turepu Keenan said. He said two people were taken to hospital for observation, but there were no serious injuries.

A spokesperson for Northern Police Communications said it was a nose-to-tail crash involving a bus and several cars.

A fire service northern communications spokesperson said two appliances from the Ellerslie station were called out at 8.29am, as well as a heavy technical unit which was not required at the scene. No one had to be cut out from their cars, nor was anyone seriously injured, she said.

TV3 reported the Waka Pacific bus lost control of its brakes, crashing into the cars.

Zane Fulljames, the chief operations officer for NZ Bus who run the Waka Pacific service, said the company is currently cooperating with police in their investigation into the accident and with other emergency services at the scene.

"At this stage the situation is unclear," Mr Fulljames said. "There doesn't appear to have been any passengers on the bus, but this has not been confirmed. Our focus is on the scene."

Newstalk ZB reported the bus ploughed into up to eight cars. Ambulance officers checked the two people hospitalised along with 22 others at the scene.

The police Serious Crash Unit is in attendance.

- NZ Herald staff