Car crashes into ditch by Auckland's Southern Motorway

The car went into a ditch on SH1 between Te Irirangi and East Tamaki Drive. Photo/Supplied

Traffic is moving slowly on Auckland's Southern Motorway after a car crashed into a ditch.

The crash on SH1 in the northbound lane between Te Irirangi and East Tamaki caused congestion because people were rubbernecking, the New Zealand Transport Agency said on Twitter.

UPDATE: This crash is now also causing delays Southbound due to rubbernecking. #ExpectDelays ^KM https://t.co/1jp1O4VDRu

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) May 25, 2017

A witness said it took about half an hour to get past the crash site because traffic was moving so slowly.

"We were just going past and I saw the car was in the ditch, and obviously lots of police and fire staff and medical staff there," she said.

She had left Takanini about 1.30pm, and was only just driving past the scene at 2pm.

"It was terrible."

The crash has now been cleared but traffic is still slow.

Police said two people were taken to Middlemore hospital with moderate and minor injuries.