Horror crash north of Wanganui kills two

Members of the public stepped in to help some of the victims of a double fatality crash 12km north of Wanganui yesterday afternoon.

The smash occurred about 4pm on the three-lane section of SH3 just north of the small settlement of Kai Iwi.

Inspector Tom Ireland said it appeared that a southbound car heading downhill collided with a northbound one which was passing another northbound vehicle.

Wanganui Fire Service senior station officer Gary Wilson said from the scene that there were seven people involved in total, spread over the three vehicles.

"Two were out when we got here and all the others had to be removed after they were assessed by ambulance staff. We had to use the cutting gear to free one person."

He praised members of the public who were helping the crash victims when emergency services arrived.

"There was lots of good public help. They were comforting people like those who were out of the vehicles and walking."

Wanganui Hospice nurse Pip Harpur was the first medical person on the scene. She came across the crash on her way from work to her home in Hawera, before the three ambulances arrived.

She said some police were there already, and together they worked to provide immediate medical assistance.

"There were some pretty serious injuries. People were screaming and it was all pretty messy."

Ms Harpur drove the road regularly and found it hard to understand how a crash could have occurred on that particular stretch.

Police diverted traffic in both directions while they attended the crash. The scene was cleared by 8.45pm.

Police later confirmed the deceased were a 53-year-old woman and a 54-year-old man, both from Wanganui. Their names were not available.

Another four people were taken to Wanganui Hospital by ambulance -- one in serious condition and three in moderate condition.

A hospital spokesperson said all four were in a serious condition last night.

- WANGANUI CHRONICLE