Boy still critical after BOP smash

The scene of the Kawerau crash in which three children were critically injured. Photo / Supplied

An eight-year old boy is fighting for his life in Auckland City Hospital after an horrific Bay of Plenty crash which left four children injured yesterday.

The four were in car which collided with a truck and trailer in the eastern Bay of Plenty town of Kawerau about 10am.

Police said that three of the children were not restrained.

The eight-year-old boy was flown to Auckland Hospital last night and his condition was this afternoon described as critical.

Two girls, aged four and six, were in a stable condition in a Waikato Hospital's children's ward after being moved from the intensive care unit earlier today, spokeswoman Mary Anne Gill said today.

A nine-year-old child, who was admitted to Whakatane Hospital, was described as being in a stable condition.

The woman driver received minor injuries and had been discharged.

The car, a Nissan Primera, was struck after it turned into the path of the oncoming truck and trailer unit.

Kawerau fire station officer Jim Radley said it took about 30 minutes to cut the four children from the wreckage.

Whakatane police serious crash unit are investigating the cause of the crash.

- NZPA