Men trapped in serious crash in Bay black spot

High speed crash on Wahakamarama Road. Photo / George Nova

A Tauranga man was seriously injured and had to be cut from the car he was in after it hit a ditch and catapulted through a fence.

Emergency services were called to a section of Whakamarama Rd after the car lost control, crossed the centre line, hit a ditch and catapulted through a fence just before 5.30pm yesterday.

The 25-year-old Tauranga man driving the car was able to escape the crash but the 21-year-old passenger, also from Tauranga, was trapped and had to be cut from the wreckage by the fire service.

Emergency services work after a high speed crash on Wahakamarama Road. Photo / George Novak

The passenger was seriously injured and both men were taken to Tauranga Hospital. They were both in stable conditions last night.

Katikati senior constable Lindsay Freeman said the vehicle crossed the centre line.

The car then hit a ditch, catapulted up, rolled through a fence and ended up on a piece of farm land, he said.

Mr Lindsay said he did not normally police the area but knew efforts had been made to widen and straighten sections of Whakamarama Rd.

Whakamarama Rd resident of more than 20 years Rachael Jeffrey said she was at home when she heard the car crash through her fence.

Mrs Jeffrey said she heard the crash from inside her house.

"Just big bangs and dust. I was coming out the back door to see who was coming down and you just saw all the dust.

"We ran straight over, I called my husband, and assisted.

"The driver was out and the passenger was over [slumped over in the front of the car] and they were all panicking so I came in and started talking to them and said: 'You're going to be all right.'"

Mrs Jeffrey said the driver was agitated but okay.

"There have been quite a few accidents here."

Another Whakamarama Rd resident, who did not want to be identified, said he had always been concerned with the traffic along the road.