State Highway 2 reopens after two-car crash in Tauranga

State Highway 2 near Tauranga has reopened after powerlines had fallen on the road, temporarily trapping motorists.

Sergeant Wayne Hunter, of Western Bay road police, said a vehicle heading toward Tauranga crashed into a power pole and then clipped another.

The force of the crash caused two other power poles to come loose and fall on to the road, Hunter said.

A motorist, who did not want to be named, was travelling towards Tauranga when they saw the first power pole fall.

The second pole fell in front of their car, leaving the front of the vehicle covered in powerlines.

"There was a lot of sparking coming from the car, I couldn't breathe because of the smoke," the motorist said.

They said they turned the engine off and moved into the back seat and waited for assistance from emergency services.

A large burn mark was left on the driver's side of the vehicle.

The incident happened about 1.30pm on State Highway 2 near Wairoa Pa Rd in Bethlehem.

However, just before 2pm, emergency crews had yet been able to approach the vehicles involved because of powerlines on both cars.

A Fire and Emergency spokeswoman said crews were waiting for power company staff to arrive to establish whether the powerlines were live.

She said it was not known whether those involved in the crash were injured; but said they remained inside the vehicles.

Ambulance staff were also unable to approach the cars because of the possible live powerlines.