Northland emergency services at serious crash on Cove Rd, Waipu and fatal crash at SH1 Kauri

Three children are among seven people seriously hurt in a crash on a main route around the Brynderwyn Hills closure.

The Cove Rd, Waipu crash was followed less than two hours later by a second at Kauri, north of Whangārei, in which one person died at the scene.

Emergency services were called to Cove Rd about 1.30pm after receiving reports of a crash believed to be a head-on collision involving two vehicles.

Three children were transported to Starship Children’s Hospital in Auckland - two seriously hurt and one in a critical condition.

The remaining four people were taken to Whangārei Hospital. One patient was in a critical condition, another was seriously hurt, and the remaining two were in a moderate condition.

Rescue helicopters transport patients to hospital from the serious crash on Cove Rd, Waipū. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Two Northland Rescue Helicopters and two Westpac rescue choppers were dispatched to the scene alongside five ambulances, two rapid response vehicles and two managers. Police and the Waipū Volunteer Fire Brigade also attended.

Cove Rd, one of the main detours recommended while the Brynderwyns are off-limits during road repairs, was closed to traffic but reopened roughly three hours later.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) director regional relationships Steve Mutton said the crash was the last thing they wanted to see on our roads.

The Brynderwyns closed at midnight after a brief reopening for Easter.

“I can’t encourage people enough to drive to the conditions, slow down and take extra care as you adapt to taking a different route.”

There was a serious crash on Cove Rd.

Meanwhile, police were called to the intersection of State Highway 1 and Apotu Rd at Kauri about 3.15pm after a two-vehicle crash involving a motorcycle.

The Serious Crash Unit will conduct a scene examination and motorists were asked to avoid the area.