Wellsford crash: Critically injured man recovering in Auckland City Hospital

A man critically injured in a fiery crash on State Highway 1 near Wellsford yesterday is now in a serious but stable condition in Auckland City Hospital, a hospital spokeswoman says.

The man in his 30s was flown by Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter to the central city hospital after the two-vehicle crash near McPherson Way, north of Auckland, at 4.07pm.

A second person injured in the crash, which caused dramatic scenes and delays after both vehicles subsequently caught fire, was taken by ambulance to North Shore Hospital in a moderate condition, a St John Ambulance spokeswoman said.

Two helicopters, two ambulances, a rapid response unit and a manager were sent to the scene, the spokeswoman said.

There was understood to have been no change in the second person’s condition overnight, a North Shore Hospital spokeswoman said.

Plumes of black smoke spread across the state highway following the crash, with one witness describing other motorists pouring water on a man on the ground after the crash.

The vehicles caught fire in the incident, sending plumes of black smoke across the highway.

Fire and Emergency, which sent two crews from Wellsford, confirmed today a fire investigator had been “called in” but referred comment to police.

Police had no new information on the crash today.

Two vehicles caught fire after a crash on State Highway 1 in Wellsford this afternoon.

Passersby who helped after the accident were exposed to horrific scenes and another witness described a man “covered in burns ... blood everywhere”.

Dion Parkes told the Herald he was travelling about a minute behind the crash.

“There was a dude covered in burns, there was blood everywhere. People were pouring water on him. It was absolutely horrific.

“It was T-bone. Both vans collided with each other and burst into flames pretty much immediately.

“I reckon about about 10-20 people had pulled over. People were stopping in the middle of the road, didn’t know what to do.

”Some people were running to help, others were sitting in their car. There was one person standing out of the car, screaming and waving at vans.”

The aftermath of the incident on State Highway 1, Wellsford, that has left two people injured.

Firefighters at the scene of Friday afternoon's accident.

Parkes said they had the window of their vehicle down and the heat of the crash while driving by was “quite intense”.

People were getting angry because the traffic had stopped.

”I was just cruising slowly and I had one guy come boosting around past me. ‘Slow down dude, a crash just happened.’”

Motorists were advised to avoid the area and expect delays.