Seat belts not worn in critical crash

The scene of this morning's collision between a truck and a car in Kawerau, in which three children were critically injured. Photo / Supplied

Three of the five occupants of a car involved in a collision with a truck in the Bay of Plenty town of Kawerau today were not wearing seat belts, police say

The crash, which left three children with critical injuries, happened about 10am on the corner of Islington Street and Tamarangi Drive, Sergeant Ray Wylie, of Whakatane, said.

The car, a Nissan Primera, was struck after it turned into the path of an oncoming truck and trailer unit, Mr Wylie said.

Kawerau fire station officer Jim Radley said it took around 30 minutes to cut the four children from the wreckage.

Three of the four children were in critical condition and were flown by helicopter to Waikato and Roturua hospitals, a St John Ambulance spokesman said.

One of the children was flown to Waikato Hospital had serious head injuries, the spokesman said.

A fourth child with serious injuries and a woman suffering from minor to moderate injuries were driven to Whakatane Hospital by ambulance.

Mr Wylie said the crash was a "timely" reminder about the importance of wearing seat belts.

"Wearing seat belts is probably the easiest step people can take to save their life."

Waikato Hospital spokeswoman Mary Anne Gill told NZPA that two girls from Auckland, aged six and four years, were in the hospital's intensive care unit and a 10-year-old child was due to be transferred from Whakatane Hospital later this afternoon.

An eight-year-old boy who was flown to Rotorua hospital had been transferred to Starship Hospital.

Whakatane police serious crash unit were investigating the cause of the crash.

- NZPA