Victims stable after three-car crash near Paihia

Friends of the injured gather around the wreckage of the Corolla involved in yesterday's crash. Photo / Peter de Graaf, Northern Advocate

A teenager is in a serious but stable condition after a three-car crash near Paihia yesterday.

The North Shore woman, aged in her late teens, was airlifted to Whangarei Hospital in a critical condition after the car in which she was travelling was hit by a ute and spun into a station wagon as it tried to make a turn into the Bay of Islands Holiday Camp about 10am.

She was cut from car by firefighters and suffered a head injury and severe facial cuts.

Two other passengers were taken to hospital -- one in a serious condition with a suspected broken pelvis and the other with moderate injuries. Both are now stable.

Holidaymakers push a damaged car out of the way in the holiday park's entrance. Photo / Peter de Graaf, Northern Advocate

The car's driver and passengers in the station wagon were not injured. The ute's driver suffered whiplash.

Police said it appeared a Toyota Corolla, travelling towards Puketona, had turned right into the campground entrance into the path of a Nissan ute heading towards Paihia.

The impact spun the sedan 180 degrees and into a BMW station wagon waiting to turn out of the campground.

The crash blocked the main route between Paihia, Kerikeri and further north.

Emergency services work on clearing the scene outside the Bay of Islands Holiday Camp. Photo / Peter de Graaf, Northern Advocate

Senior Sergeant Ian Row, of the Northland road policing unit, said alcohol was not suspected but speed and inexperience were possible factors, as was failing to check properly before turning.

He urged motorists to slow down and take care.

In particular he urged caution when turning: "Look twice and turn once -- like builders measure twice, then cut once."

The police investigation is continuing.