Man critical, baby injured in two West Coast smashes

Photo / File photo

A man suffered critical injuries and a woman and baby taken to hospital after two crashes on the West Coast this morning.

The woman and three children had to be cut from a car that ended up in a ditch near Barrytown school about 8.45am.

A three-month-old baby was flown to Grey Base Hospital by the Solid Energy Rescue Helicopter with facial injuries and checked for neck injuries.

The mother was taken to Greymouth by ambulance with neck injuries. The other two children were uninjured.

Meanwhile, a 30-year-old Blackball man is in a critical condition after a crash at the Waitaha Bridge between Harihari and Ross about 6am.

The man and a companion were travelling south when their vehicle left the road.

The driver was taken to Grey Base Hospital and is being flown to Christchurch for treatment for serious head and chest injuries.

The male passenger, 17, received minor injuries.

The police serious crash unit is investigating.