Seatbelts would have limited injuries - police

Critical injuries suffered by two teens in a crash in south Waikato early today could have been avoided if they had been wearing seat belts, police say.

Waikato Road Policing manager Inspector Leo Tooman said a young man and woman were in a critical condition in Waikato Hospital's Intensive Care Unit following the crash about 3.30am near Kihikihi, 4km south of Te Awamutu.

Excessive speed was a significant factor in the crash, Mr Tooman said.

"As the driver of the white Subaru WRX lost control two people were ejected from the rear seat of the car as it rolled, such was the speed involved one of the injured was thrown over 30m."

The car which had been carrying five people ended up coming to a rest in a ditch.

The injuries suffered by a 16-year-old Otorohanga girl and an 18-year-old Raglan man were avoidable tragedies in that both rear seat passengers were not wearing seatbelts, he said.

The other three occupants of the car, a 20-year-old male driver and two 19-year-old male passengers escaped with just minor scrapes and bruising.

They were interviewed by police this morning.

Mr Tooman said there had already been seven deaths in the Waikato this year of people thrown from motor vehicles while not wearing their seatbelts.

"In every case, where there has been other people in the vehicle, those wearing seatbelts- though sometimes injured, have survived.

"In this case it may be that these young people could've been able to enjoy breakfast with their families, instead their loved ones are being put through a terrible ordeal as health experts try and save them."

Meanwhile, Waikato police want to talk to witnesses who may have seen a crash near Pirongia, 32km south west of Hamilton, yesterday which left three people, including an 18-month-old baby, seriously injured.

Te Awamutu police Senior Sergeant Dave Simes said the crash happened about 4.30pm on Te Pahu Rd near the village of the same name.

"Two vehicles, a Toyota Corolla and a Nissan Avenir, collided head-on causing significant damage to both vehicles."

Police wanted to hear from the driver of a southbound car that stopped briefly just past the crash scene before driving off.

The car was a white or cream coloured sedan, and police believe the driver might hold information key to the investigation .

Fire fighters were needed to extract the 16-year-old male driver of the Toyota, who was in a serious but stable condition in intensive care at Waikato Hospital.

The 37-year-old driver of the Nissan was operated on at Waikato Hospital overnight and was in a stable condition while her 18-month-old baby was flown by air ambulance to Auckland's Starship Hospital.

- NZPA