Wellington motorway crash: Car seen driving down the wrong side just before crash

The two vehicles collided on the Wellington Urban motorway northbound on the fly-over between Molesworth St and the Aotea on-ramp. Image / NZTA

Two people have been killed and two are in a serious condition after a horror crash on Wellington's Urban Motorway this morning.

The killed pair were travelling in the same vehicle and were pronounced dead at the scene after the two-car crash about 4.20am. Two others were seriously injured.

Police have confirmed that it appeared one of the vehicles was travelling the wrong way in the northbound lanes when the collision happened.

A spokesperson from Capital & Coast District Health Board provided an update at 1pm, saying one patient was undergoing treatment, and the other was in a serious condition after being taken to Wellington hospital.

A witness has described to the Herald seeing a vehicle driving down the wrong side of the motorway shortly before the crash.

Wellington road policing manager Inspector Wade Jennings said: "We are currently working to understand the full chain of events that led to this crash.

"This will including speaking to witnesses and reviewing CCTV."

UPDATE 7:45AM
The northbound lanes of SH1 Urban Motorway are now OPEN with a speed restriction in place. Thank you for your patience during this closure. There are still southbound DELAYS on SH2 Petone to Ngauranga and SH1 Ngauranga Gorge. Please continue to be patient. ^AL pic.twitter.com/A6hpN9fQKp

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Wellington (@WakaKotahiWgtn) January 18, 2021

Police are asking anyone who has information that may help in their investigation to contact them immediately.

Emergency services were called to the scene of the two-vehicle collision on the motorway, heading northbound, on the flyover between Molesworth St and the Aotea on-ramp.

Police were told about the incident about 4.20am.

By 8am the motorway had reopened, but Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency advised there were speed restrictions in place for both northbound and southbound traffic. Motorists should expect delays, the agency said.

A woman driving to work told the Herald she saw a car driving on the wrong side of the motorway.

"My co-worker was also coming to work at this time and saw far more than me - [he] was trying to signal the driver to turn around."

The woman said her colleague had seen the car get onto the motorway via the Petone entrance before it "sped off".

Desperate attempt to alert drivers

"[My colleague] was trying to alert oncoming drivers by flashing high beams and hazard lights."

The woman got off the motorway at the Aotea off-ramp and did not see another vehicle.

"The crash seems to have happened just after that," she said.

"It would've been just before 4.30am as that is when I started work."

The woman said her colleague suspected there was a possibility the driver going down the wrong side of the motorway had become confused about where they were going.

Police said two people were travelling in each vehicle involved.

UPDATE 6:30AM
SH1 Urban Motorway northbound remains CLOSED, including the Arras and through the Terrace Tunnel. SCU are on site conducting their investigations. Please SLOW DOWN & expect DELAYS on your commute, as queues are building back to Kaiwharawhara. ^AL pic.twitter.com/iSd4P80DDx

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Wellington (@WakaKotahiWgtn) January 18, 2021

A Wellington Free Ambulance spokesperson said the two people with injuries were in a critical condition.

Police alerted the public via its Facebook page just after 5am - telling people to avoid the area completely.

"Police are requesting people leaving Wellington avoid using the motorway or delay their travel."

People driving southbound into Wellington are also asked to "travel with care" particularly as they go past the crash site, and could also expect delays.