One critical after car enters motorway in wrong direction

One person is in a critical condition after a car was driven up the offramp on to Auckland's Southern Motorway early today and collided with another vehicle going the other way, police said.

The incident happened about 2.50am, when a car was reported to have entered a motorway off ramp at Otara and to be travelling at speed.

Before police could intercept it, the car collided with a vehicle going into the opposite direction.

Inspector Terrence Van Dillen, from the police northern communications centre, said it was not yet clear whether other vehicles were involved.

Police, who appealed for witnesses to contact them, said it was not known whether alcohol was a factor in the incident.

The crash led to the closure of a section of the motorway for several hours.

- NZPA