Two injured in car crash

Two male occupants of a car were hospitalised yesterday afternoon after a crash on State Highway 2 near Te Awe Awe Rd.

One of the passengers was flown by helicopter to Palmerston North Hospital.

The single-vehicle crash occurred in the Hamua area between Pahiatua and Eketahuna shortly before 1pm.

A police spokeswoman said the car involved was travelling south. All three occupants were men from the Lower Hutt area.

The spokeswoman said it looked like the 42-year-old driver of the vehicle had crossed the centre line before rolling a few times and hitting an embankment.

The driver was uninjured, but the two occupants were injured.

A 43-year-old passenger was airlifted to Palmerston North Hospital by helicopter with moderate back injuries, while a 24-year-old occupant was brought to Wairarapa Hospital with minor injuries. Fire and ambulance services attended the scene of the crash.

Just over an hour after the crash at 2.15pm, while police were still at the scene, a further crash occurred just metres away.

The second collision occurred when an elderly driver, who was accompanied by his wife travelling northbound on State Highway 2, crashed into the trailer of a stationary car. Neither sustained any injuries.