By CATHY ARONSON AND NZPA
A fatal crash near Thames delayed holidaymakers returning to Auckland for up to five hours yesterday.
A Ngatea man in his mid twenties died after the southbound car he was driving and another crashed head-on on Pipiroa Bridge, between Thames and Waitakaruru, about 11 am.
Two of his three passengers were airlifted to Auckland Hospital where the female was last night in a critical condition and the male in a serious but stable condition.
The other passenger, a 7-year-old girl, was transferred by air ambulance from Thames Hospital to the Starship hospital in Auckland with moderate injuries.
They are believed to be family members.
The three occupants of the north-bound car were treated at Thames Hospital and discharged.
Sergeant Mike Rolfe said the Ngatea accident caused major delays for holiday traffic for up to five hours.
Traffic on the highway, the main link between Thames and Auckland, was diverted to State Highway 2, resulting in big delays for Bay of Plenty traffic.
Wellington drivers had similar problems on Saturday when a fatal crash closed State Highway 1 north of Waikanae for more than four hours.
Police national road safety manager Steve Fitzgerald said yesterday that a debriefing would be held next week with Transit New Zealand to see if the extensive traffic delays could have been avoided. Traffic was backed up for 35km.
Police closed the road to clean up the scene and conduct a forensic inquiry after Angela Robson, aged 30, of Auckland, was killed and her husband and two children injured in the head-on crash.
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