Men fighting for lives after car cut in half named

The scene of the crash on Albany Hill. Photo / Natalie Slade

Police have released further details of two men who are fighting for their lives in hospital after their car was sliced in two in a collision with a rubbish truck on Auckland's North Shore.

They are Todd Wiltshire, 25, and Grant Forsey, 28, both from Auckland. They remain in a critical condition in Auckland Hospital's intensive care unit after the crash on Albany Hill on Friday.

Constable Colin Nuttall, of the serious crash unit, said it had not yet been established who the driver was as both men were thrown from the vehicle, one landing about 25 metres from the point of impact.

Given the severity of the crash one could assume speed was a factor, however, Mr Nuttall said he had seen crashes of this magnitude where speeds weren't high, particularly when heavy vehicles were involved.

Senior Constable Karl Bevin, of the Waitemata serious crash unit, said the driver of their Nissan Skyline lost control after rounding a left-hand bend and slid across the lanes into oncoming south-bound traffic.

It appeared the truck driver had veered toward the left-hand lane to try to avoid the collision but the Nissan Skyline slid sideways and collided with it, he said.

The truck driver and a male passenger were shaken but unhurt.

They had been heading downhill on their way back from the Redvale landfill site when the crash happened just after 1pm.

Mr Nuttall said blood samples had been taken from both men to test for alcohol and drugs - as is done after all serious crashes - the results of which would be available in one to two weeks.

-NZPA