Both Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopters were tasked to transport patients to Auckland City Hospital. Westpac 2 helicopter transported a female patient in her teens in a serious condition. Westpac Helicopter 3 transported a male patient in his 40s in a serious condition.
Photo / Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust
Both Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopters were tasked to transport patients to Auckland City Hospital. Westpac 2 helicopter transported a female patient in her teens in a serious condition. Westpac Helicopter 3 transported a male patient in his 40s in a serious condition.
Photo / Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust
One person is dead after a serious crash involving a tour bus that has closed State Highway 1 near Tīrau.
Emergency services responded to the crash near the intersection with Paparamu Rd just after 2pm.
Senior Sergeant Taupō Area road policing manager Fane Troy told a Herald reporter on the scene the crash “involved three vehicles, one of those being a tour bus”.
Troy said police believed the bus passengers were overseas tourists.
“It’s early on in the investigation so we cannot say what caused the crash,” he said.
Photos from the scene of the crash show a bus on the side of the road, along with a severely damaged car. Further along the road is an SUV with damage to its front.
Hato Hone St John said 13 patients have been transported for treatment, with two of them critical and four serious. Several rescue helicopters have been scrambled to the scene.
One person is dead after a serious two-vehicle crash that has closed State Highway 1 near Tīrau. Photo / Supplied
One person commented on Facebook, “Oh no! I heard all the sirens and thought it may have been an accident”.
Another said, “Bus versus car. It’s not good.”
Another local resident posted: “I just seen three appliances leave Putaruru and three cops and ambo race through from Tokoroa ... It must be catastrophic.”
A Hato Hone St John spokesperson said seven ambulances, five helicopters and three rapid response units have been sent to the scene.
Patients were taken to Waikato, Rotorua, Tauranga and Auckland Hospitals by road and air.
Ambulances respond to a serious bus crash near Tīrau which closed SH1, leaving one dead and 13 others injured. Photo / Supplied
The Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter confirmed it had transported a patient in critical condition to Waikato Hospital.
“The Greenlea Rescue Helicopter is still on scene,” a spokesperson said.
The Herald understands the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter is also responding to the accident.
A detour is now in place after the serious crash closed a section of SH1 northwest of Tīrau. Photo / Google
Waka Kotahi NZTA has also posted about the accident, warning motorists to expect delays.
“Due to a serious crash, State Highway 1 is closed between Tīrau and Piarere Rbt due to a crash near Paparamu Rd.
“This section of SH1 is likely to remain closed for some time today as NZ Police undertake a serious crash investigation. Delay your journey or allow extra time for a detour via SH27 and SH29.”
