Drivers badly injured in collision at Woodhill

The scene of the crash last night. Picture / Greg Bowker

A motorist was trapped in the wreckage of his car for more than an hour last night after it and a ute collided on State Highway 16 at Woodhill.

The man was flown by the Westpac rescue helicopter to Auckland City Hospital in a critical condition.

The driver of the ute suffered serious injuries and was taken to the hospital by St John Ambulance.

The crash happened opposite the Woodhill School just after 5.30pm and closed the highway.

Firefighters began work to free the critically injured car driver at 5.36pm and completed the job at 6.39pm.

Helensville chief fire officer Laurence Stokes said the extrication was awkward because the back of the car was sitting on the ute tray.

Paramedics worked on the driver while firefighters cut away pieces of the car to free him.

Two Fire Service rescue tenders, two pumps and a lighting unit were sent to the scene.

A police serious crash unit is investigating.