Nine people were hurt when a car collided with a van on State Highway 30 near Whakatane last night.
A rescue helicopter statement said the car collided with the van at about 10.20pm as the van was turning right into a driveway. The crash occured near Fortune Rd, Awakeri.
Three of the injured were in a serious condition. An 18-year-old Kawerau woman was flown by the TECT Rescue Helicopter to Tauranga Hospital with shoulder, neck and back injuries.
Her condition was described as moderate on arrival at Tauranga, the remaining patients were taken by St John ambulance to Whakatane Hospital.
