Elderly woman airlifted to hospital after car and motorcycle collide in South Taranaki

A motorbike and a car have crashed on this stretch of SH3 in Patea. Photo/Google Street View

A woman in her 70s has been taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries after a crash reportedly involving a truck, a car and a motorbike in South Taranaki.

Taranaki Police were called at 4.28pm to reports of the crash on State Highway 3 in Patea, between Kaharoa and O'Reilly Rds.

The elderly female driver of the car suffered multiple serious injuries.

Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter personnel said in a statement that her car collided with a truck and trailer. It was not clear how the motorcycle was involved in the accident.

The woman was trapped in the wreckage of her car and was cut free by fire services.

She was stabilised at the scene by the helicopter's onboard St John Ambulance paramedic before being flown to Whanganui Hospital.

A section of Patea Rd was closed while the Serious Crash Unit assessed the scene.

Motorists should expect delays or take alternate routes if possible, police said.