Two critical after serious crashes

Photo / File

Two people are fighting for their lives after serious crashes in the North Island today.

The crashes were among at least four in the top half the island today, including one that snarled traffic on the Southern Motorway.

This evening, the Northland Emergency Services' Trust rescue helicopter flew a man to Whangarei Base Hospital with critical injuries received when the vehicle he was in struck a power pole on Mangakahia Rd, near the Far North town of Kaikohe.

It is understood the man was thrown from the car.

A northern ambulance communications spokeswoman said a second person received minor injuries, but did not need hospital treatment.

Senior Sergeant Chris Money, of Auckland, said downed powerlines were over the car after the crash, which occurred just before 8pm, but the scene had been made safe. Just before 4.30pm a car and a logging truck collided on State Highway 25 near Whiritoa, in the Coromandel. One person was critically injured and was flown, with another person who had moderate injuries, by rescue helicopter to hospital.

The truck driver received bruising, Money said.

The state highway was closed between Parakiwai Quarry Rd and Gladstone Rd following the crash. The serious crash unit attended both the Far North and Coromandel crashes.

Meanwhile, an overturned trailer caused congestion on the Southern Motorway at the Bombay Hills late this afternoon. No one was hurt, but a motorist said traffic heading north was at a standstill.

A woman was also taken by ambulance to hospital with minor injuries after a car struck a parked car on Beach Rd, in the Auckland suburb of Campbell's Bay, Money said.

A child - believed to be a baby - was also in the car, but was not injured.

Meanwhile, police have tonight named the 21-year-old man who died in a car crash near Owaka yesterday. He was Thomas David William Corbett, of Owaka Valley Rd.