GUTTED: The cab of a fertiliser truck was engulfed in flames on State Highway 33 yesterday. PHOTO/BEN FRASER
GUTTED: The cab of a fertiliser truck was engulfed in flames on State Highway 33 yesterday. PHOTO/BEN FRASER
The region's emergency services were kept busy yesterday, with a serious crash at a notorious blackspot, a fertiliser truck fire and a logging truck shedding its load.
Two people were taken to hospital with multiple broken bones after a camper van and a motorcycle collided on State Highway 5 near Waiotapu about 10.20am, Rotorua police Sergeant Chris McLeod said.
The motorcycle rider and his pillion passenger had "life-changing" injuries and were lucky to be alive.
The scene of yesterday's crash at Waiotapu. PHOTO BEN FRASER
It is believed the camper van was performing a U-turn near the Gull Service Station and the driver did not see the motorcycle, which was travelling north, Mr McLeod said.
"We've had a couple of serious crashes on State Highway 5 this week and we've got a big weekend with the bike race [100km Flyer], so people should take extreme care. Take regular breaks so you don't drive tired and take care when changing lanes."
The road was reduced to one lane for about two-and-a-half hours.
An Australian tourist has been charged with two counts of careless use of a vehicle causing injury and is expected to appear in court during the s week.
A Benny Bee dairy staff member, who did not want to be named, said they heard a "boom".
"We haven't had a crash in a while but there's been plenty of near-misses, at least a couple of times a day, you always hear smaller trucks tooting their horns.
"I think it's the speed, it's 100km on the road. They need to put up a limited speed area here. I, personally, when I'm needing to turn right [on to the highway] if I even see a glimpse of a vehicle I wait for it to pass."
Two Australian tourists were killed and seven others injured in a crash in November when their van crossed the centre line and collided with a milk tanker on SH5, south of Settlers Rd, in Reporoa. In October a tourist tried a U-turn on the same highway outside the Waiotapu Tavern and was hit by another car. Four people were injured. The New Zealand Transport Agency recently invested around $400,000 improving safety on SH5 near Waiotapu.
The work, which was completed this month, involved installing left-turn deceleration lanes to help drivers identify where they need to turn and to be able do so without impeding through traffic. Street lighting was also improved.
Meanwhile, a fire hazardous materials unit was called to the scene of a fertiliser truck fire on SH33 north of Rotorua yesterday morning.
GUTTED: The cab of a fertiliser truck was engulfed in flames on State Highway 33 yesterday. PHOTO/BEN FRASER
The cab of the single-trailer truck was gutted after fire broke out in the engine area. The driver escaped uninjured.
Maketu fire station officer Shane Gourlay said he and their seven volunteer officers received the callout to attend the scene, in the Sun Valley area, about 9.45am.
A fire crew from Te Puke also attended.
"It was well involved when we arrived, it was contained to the cab, the top of the truck canopy was all burned," he said.
Mr Gourlay said it took less than 10 minutes to put the fire out.
