Three people were taken to hospital after a car and truck collided on State Highway 2 in the Waioeka Gorge, south of Opotiki, about 8pm last night.
The Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter and Trustpower TECT Rescue helicopter were both called to Opotiki Airport to meet a St John Ambulance about 9pm.
A statement from Trustpower TECT Rescue Helicopter staff said the truck collided head on with a car after the truck lost control coming down a hill.
The helicopters landed at Opotiki because of the risk of wires criss-crossing the gorge road.
The driver of the car, reported to be a 49-year-old Hamilton woman, received serious back injuries in the crash and was flown to Waikato Hospital by the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter.
