Charges over Kerikeri ute crash

The traffic backed up near Kerikeri. Photo / via Facebook

The driver of a ute that crashed into three lamp posts and rolled in Northland yesterday has been charged.

The 37-year-old man, a woman and three children were injured in the crash on State Highway 10 south of the Kerikeri Rd roundabout in Kerikeri about 5pm.

Police said the Mitsubishi Triton ute had been travelling north towards when it pulled to the left and struck three lamp posts.

It then rolled and landed on its roof before the roundabout.

Detective Sergeant Bill Dawson said members of the public helped the occupants before police and emergency services arrived.

The front seat passenger needed to be freed from the vehicle by the Fire Service. She was flown to hospital for treatment but had no serious injuries.

The three children in the back were properly restrained. They suffered some bumps and bruises but no serious injuries.

Dawson said the driver of the vehicle was facing charges in relation to the incident.

The vehicle was undergoing examination and the passengers will be spoken to in due course.

Police had already spoken to witnesses at the scene, and they are now calling for more witnesses to come forward.

"Police are seeking further witnesses to the crash, particularly anyone who witnessed the vehicle in the time leading up to the crash driving around Kerikeri," Dawson said.

Steve Meredith, who drove past the crash, said it looked like the car had hit a power pole before flipping.

"There were ambulances and fire trucks and a stretcher beside the car."

Meredith said traffic was down to a crawl in the area.