A man was trapped in his mangled car for more than an hour after a serious crash on the Kaimai Range.
Emergency services were called to the two-car crash on the Matamata side of the hill 400m east of the intersection of state highways 28 and 29 about 1.30pm yesterday.
Firefighters spent more than an hour trying to free the 50-year-old Matamata man from the car he was driving. He suffered serious injuries to his pelvis and abdomen.
St John paramedics stabilised him at the scene before he and his wife, who had minor injuries, were flown to Waikato Hospital in the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter.
Waikato police Senior Sergeant Dave Litton said State Highway 29 was blocked for one-and-a-half hours. Mr Litton said the car heading east down the Kaimai Range had crossed the centre line in wet road conditions.
The second vehicle was heading in the opposite direction and was overtaking a truck at the time of the collision, he said.
Police and firefighters were called to another crash at the corner of Canberra Pl and Windsor Rd, Bellevue about 2pm yesterday. A Mazda RX7 collided with a wooden telephone pole and broke it in two.
Senior Constable Jennie Wright said it appeared the driver had lost control coming around the corner. The driver fled the scene. Phone lines in the area were down for some time. Phone Tauranga police on (07) 577 4300 or call 0800 555 111 anonymously if you have any information.