A crash blocked Church Rd, a main route through the Napier suburb of Taradale, on Tuesday morning. Photo / Connull Lang
People have injuries ranging from minor to serious following two crashes in Napier and Hastings.
A police spokeswoman said a two-vehicle crash on Church Rd in the Napier suburb of Taradale about 6.30am on Tuesday was cleared relatively quickly.
One person was reportedly injured and the police spokeswoman said it was a minor accident.
Overnight, emergency services also responded to a crash on St Georges Rd about 10.30pm yesterday.
The police spokeswoman said an adult and a child were taken to hospital with serious injuries after a vehicle lost control and crashed into a ditch.
A Te Whatu Ora spokeswoman said a child was in a stable condition in hospital as of Tuesday morning.
A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman said no one was trapped inside the vehicle.
Police inquiries are ongoing.
Hawke’s Bay’s road toll for 2023 was 17 deaths, the same figure for all of 2022.
National Road Policing Centre director Superintendent Steve Greally earlier told Hawke’s Bay Today that the main cause of deaths and serious injuries on roads typically included speed, alcohol, drugs, distraction and unrestrained drivers and passengers.
“Road safety is something we all have to take a greater responsibility for,” Greally said.
He said police patrols would be highly visible over the holiday period.
A total of 18 people have been killed on New Zealand roads this holiday period.
Meanwhile one person was taken to hospital after a crash on Ormond Rd at 12.15am on December 30 in which they sustained critical injuries.
The second person was taken to hospital with critical injuries after a two-vehicle crash on State Highway 50 and Maraekakaho Rd.
No updated conditions were immediately available for these two motorists.
Polkinghorne was sentenced to 150 hours of community work for drug possession.