Serious crash on State Highway 1 black spot

The female and male drivers of the two vehicles were taken to Whangarei Hospital with moderate injuries. Photo / File

A serious crash on a State Highway 1 black spot south of Whangarei this morning has seen two people hospitalised with moderate injuries.

About 8.30am a southbound vehicle, driving on Smeatons Hill, lost control and collided with a northbound vehicle.

The female and male drivers of the two vehicles were taken to Whangarei Hospital with moderate injuries. A male passenger of the southbound vehicle was not injured.

Traffic is backed up as one lane remains open while the crash scene is cleared.

Police say motorists need to be patient, delay their travel or take alternative routes, and take extra care in wet weather.

"On hot days oil and diesel rises to the surface of the roads and when mixed with the rain water the roads become very slippery," acting Northland road policing manager Inspector Wayne Ewers said.

Mr Ewers says motorists need to watch their following distances and slow down around corners.

Last Tuesday a 45-year-old man died after his vehicle crossed the centre line on Smeatons Hill and collided with an oncoming logging truck.