Crash in Awakeri causes road closure at State Highway 2 and State Highway 30 junction

The road is closed near Awakeri. Photo / File

Due to a crash State Highway 2 is closed in both directions between the State Highway 2 and State Highway 30 junction and Taneatua Rd.

New Zealand Transport Agency posted this morning on their Twitter of the crash near Station Rd at 6.15am - resulting in the road closure.

SH2 WAIMANA GORGE - CRASH - 6:15AM
Due to a crash near Station Road, SH2 is closed in both directions between SH2/SH30 junction and Taneatua Road. A detour is in place. Please follow the detour and allow for the extra travel time. ^MF pic.twitter.com/LX5xW9TlDy

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Waikato/BoP (@WakaKotahiWaiBP) June 20, 2019

A police spokeswoman said the crash was between a van and a 4WD car on State Highway 2 between Angle and White Pine Bush Rd.

Meanwhile, a vehicle crashed into a power pole at the intersection of State Highway 2 and Station Rd last night.

Police presence at the Z Petrol station in Whakatāne this morning. Photo / Supplied

The spokeswoman said police were called to a petrol station at 11.20pm after it was reported that a person allegedly filled their car with petrol and threatened staff with a knife.

She said the vehicle left the petrol station and was found by police after it allegedly failed to stop when signalled to.

She said police followed the vehicle for a short time which ended in a crash.

Four people were now in custody and one person had minor injuries.

A detour was in place from State Highway 2 and the State Highway 30 junction.

Southbound traffic continues on State Highway 30 eastbound to Whakatāne town and Hinemoa St and continues to Arawa Rd.

Turn right on to Valley Rd then continue on to Taneatua Rd, back to SH2.

New Zealand Transport Agency said for northbound traffic do the reverse.

Detour: southbound from SH2/SH30 junction continue on SH30 eastbound to Whakatane town & Hinemoa St and continue to Arawa Rd. Turn right onto Valley Rd then continue onto Taneatua Rd, back to SH2. Reverse for NORTHBOUND traffic. ^MF https://t.co/vr3FLKoTuP

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Waikato/BoP (@WakaKotahiWaiBP) June 20, 2019

At around . Police followed the vehicle for a short time. The vehicle crashed into a power pole at the intersection of State Highway 2 and Station Road. Four people are now in custody. One person had minor injuries as a result of the crash.