Deadly road bend claims new victim

Firefighters, who had to cut the two injured men from their cars, described yesterday's scene as "horrific". Photo / Greg Bowker

One man was killed and another was left fighting for his life in a three-car pile-up on a notorious corner on State Highway 1 yesterday.

A third man was in a serious condition last night after the accident on the Whangarei side of the Brynderwyn Hills about 4pm.

Glen Orford of the Maungaturoto Volunteer Fire Brigade said two of the cars collided head-on.

"It was a pretty horrific crash site."

Passengers were trapped inside two of the vehicles, but the third car sustained only minor damage.

Fire crews had to cut the two injured men from their cars.

Ambulances transported one to Whangarei Hospital, and the Northland Emergency Services Trust flew the critically injured patient.

Both men remained in intensive care last night.

The ages of the dead and injured were not known.

Inspector Martin Felton said a police investigation was under way into what caused the crash.

Both north- and south-bound lanes of the highway were closed, and traffic in both directions was being diverted through Mangawhai on the east coast.

Mr Felton said managing the traffic became a problem for the police, after many vehicles took wrong turns and the large number of trucks caused congestion.

Pamela Stringer, who lives over the hill from the crash site, said a number of accidents had occurred there over the years.

"They've got to drive to the conditions of the road. You've got to slow down. It's a deceptive corner."

Swedish tourists Emelie Jenny Green and Theresia Andrea Johansson, both 20, died on thesame stretch of road in February last year.

In April, a 69-year-old Whangarei man died instantly when his northbound Nissan collided with a southbound Jeep Cherokee then careered into the path of a southbound Volkswagen Golf shortly after midday.

A further eight people, including four children, were taken from that crash to Whangarei Hospital with minor to moderate injuries.

In December 2008, a 25-year-old woman suffered serious chest, back and abdominal injuries when the car she was in rolled.