Children and mother critical after Northland crash

Six people were injured in a crash between a people mover van and a 4x4. Photo/John Stone

A trio of crashes on Northland roads kept emergency services busy yesterday afternoon.

Six people were injured - a mother and five of her children - after a serious crash between a mini-van and a 4x4 on a rural road north of Whangarei about 3.30pm yesterday.

Emergency services were called to the scene on Jordan Valley Rd, about 1km north of the intersection with Rushbrook Rd. The six occupants of the van were taken to hospital in various conditions.

A 12-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy suffered critical injuries and an 8-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy received serious injuries. A 9-year-old girl received moderate injuries. Their mother was also in a serious condition.

The 4x4 ended up on its side in the ditch and the driver and sole occupant was uninjured.

Senior constable Russell Rawiri said it appeared one of the vehicles had crossed the centre line and they collided head on.

Traffic was diverted down a farm race adjacent to the road while it was cleared.

Meanwhile, a logging truck crashed into a ditch on Pouto Rd near Te Kopuru between Johnson Rd and Burgess Rd about 3.40pm yesterday.

A police spokesperson said the trailer had landed on its side, spilling logs on the road.

She said no one was injured, but the southbound lane was blocked and a diversion was put in place.

After a third crash involving two vehicles on State Highway 10 near Waipapa at 5.20pm, one person was taken to Bay of Islands Hospital with minor injuries.

On Thursday night, a woman suffered minor injuries when her BMW plunged off a 5m bank into mangroves, south of Opua. Emergency services attended the crash at about 9.30pm on State Highway 11 between Beaufort St and Te Raupo Rd.

Senior station officer Michael Fayne, of the Paihia Fire Brigade, said the driver was trapped initially but had managed to get out when emergency services arrived.

The car was resting on its side in about half a metre of mud and water.

When the ambulance was called to a cardiac arrest, police took the driver to an after-hours medical clinic instead.