Schoolgirls' crash 'devastating' for school

File photo / Martin Sykes

A two-car crash which left five Rotorua Girls' High School students injured - two critically - has been "absolutely devastating" for the school, principal Annette Joyce says.

The girls were travelling from Rotorua to Tauranga when their car collided with another car northeast of Rotorua about 10am.

The driver and a backseat passenger, aged 17 and 18, were critically injured and taken to Rotorua Hospital, then transferred to Waikato Hospital.

The other three girls, all 17, received moderate injuries and were in Rotorua Hospital in a stable condition.

The 60-year-old male driver of the other car was taken to Rotorua Hospital for observation and discharged today.

Early indications were speed and failing to drive to the wet road conditions were contributing factors to the crash, police said.

Mrs Joyce today told NZPA the girls were headed to Tauranga to get spray tans, ahead of their school ball tomorrow.

Senior Sergeant Denton Grimes said he believed the girls were picking up their ball gowns in Tauranga.

The ball had since been postponed for four weeks, with the school in shock over the crash, Mrs Joyce said.

"It's just very, very, hard...All you can do is support [the students] and be there for them."

It was the first time many students had faced a situation where "two of their friends may well not survive, and that's a very hard thing for young people".

The school had a very good driver education programme and was proud of its students' driving record, Mrs Joyce said.

"We all make mistakes in life - this one has had terrible repercussions."

- NZPA