Two serious after major Hauraki Plains crash

Two elderly women have been seriously injured after their car collided with a truck on the Hauraki Plains yesterday afternoon.

Waikato road policing manager, Inspector Leo Tooman, said emergency services were called to State Highway 2, near the intersection with Orchard Rd, about 3km south of Ngatea around 4.40pm.

"The crash is still being investigated however it appears the three occupants of an eastbound Nissan car had slowed down after coming across a warning vehicle and tractor mower.

"The trio were unable to pass the mowing vehicles due to an oncoming truck and had dropped their speed accordingly. Unfortunately the driver of an eastbound truck and trailer unit appears not to have seen the Nissan and collided into the rear of the car."

Mr Tooman said a 76-year-old male passenger suffered minor to moderate injuries in the crash and was taken by ambulance to Thames Hospital, however his travelling companions were less fortunate.

"The 79-year-old female driver and a 69-year-old female passenger were trapped in the vehicle and had to be cut out by firefighters.

"The older woman was flown to an Auckland Hospital suffering from critical injuries while her companion's injuries were described as serious."

Mr Tooman said with the Waikato being a predominantly agricultural region drivers need to be aware they are likely to encounter agricultural vehicles or equipment transiting across the district's roads.