Woman still ill after ambulance collision

File photo / Wanganui Chronicle

A 23-year-old woman is still seriously ill in Rotorua Hospital after her car crossed the centre line and hit an ambulance head-on near Rotorua yesterday.

Police said the woman was heading north when she crossed the centre line on State Highway 5 3km south of Rotorua about 3.30pm. A third car hit the pileup.

Police said the woman was still in hospital and it was too soon to say if charges would be laid.

The ambulance was badly damaged in the front and down its right side, and one of the cars went down a bank.

The crash left debris strewn over the road and traffic was diverted while it was cleaned up and the wrecked vehicles removed.

St John said the ambulance was not carrying a patient and the driver was shaken but not hurt.

- NZPA