Traffic backed up on motorway

The backed up traffic. Photo: NZTA

Commuters travelling on Auckland's Southern Motorway are facing an extra slow journey into the city today after several early morning crashes.

State Highway 22 is closed after a small truck and trailer overturned near Wesley College.

Northbound traffic on the motorway is backed up to the Drury interchange after lanes between Manurewa and Manukau were blocked by a car crash at 6am.

A second nose-to-tail crash in the queued traffic added to commuter woes on the busy motorway.

The New Zealand Transport Agency said all vehicles involved in the motorway accidents had been cleared to the side of the road, however traffic was backlogged an hour later.

Auckland police inspector Jason Greenhalgh said detours were in place after a light truck towing a trailer spun out and overturned on Paerata Rd at 5.45am.

He said two people were inside the vehicle. No other vehicles were involved, he said.

An ambulance spokeswoman said two people had been taken to Middlemore Hospital for treatment.

One person had serious injuries and the other had minor injuries.

Paerata Rd was closed between Heights Rd and Glenbrook Rd and traffic was being diverted on to nearby roads.

SH22 is CLOSED due to a crash south of Wesley College. Detour in place. More info: https://t.co/DFjskHguF0 ^WS pic.twitter.com/VircRFdfZ6

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) April 12, 2016