Police at the scene of a two-vehicle serious injury crash on State Highway 29A about 200m from Poike roundabout. Photo/George Novak.
Emergency services responded to a spate of crashes in wet conditions yesterday, including a serious injury crash which closed State Highway 29A for several hours.
Three people were taken to Tauranga Hospital, one in a serious condition, after a a two-vehicle crash on State Highway 29A about 200m from the Poike roundabout.
The collision happened just after 4pm between Oropi Rd and Welcome Bay Rd and the road was closed in both directions and traffic diversions were put in place.
A police spokeswoman said three people were taken to Tauranga Hospital, one in a serious condition and one in a moderate condition.
A man person had to be cut free from one of the vehicles.
"She was trying to open her door but couldn't. She tried reversing off the rocks. She tried twice."
The woman eventually got out and was seen by ambulance staff but was not hurt.
Meanwhile, about 6pm there was a report of vehicle crashing into Turret Rd bridge but that was yet to be confirmed.
A MetService meteorologist Tui Innes said between 5.15am and 7.15pm yesterday 12.2mm of rain fell in Tauranga and the wet cloudy weather was expected to continue for the next couple of days.
Innes said there was a heavy rain warning in place for the Bay of Plenty region from 6pm last night to 11pm Monday night, which could bring 110mm or even up to 160mm of rain in Tauranga, and possibly 160-200mm on the Kaimai Ranges.
The front was slowing moving across the Bay of Plenty Region and there could still be some rain on Wednesday but depending on where the front was sitting the wet cloudy weather was expected to have eased by Thursday, he said.