Helicopters called to crash scene

The TECT helicopter takes off to Tauranga Hospital with an man on board.

A collision between a fully-laden logging truck and a Nissan Mistral left two people injured, one seriously.

The Tauranga based Trustpower TECT Rescue helicopter and the Auckland and Coromandel Westpac rescue helicopter were called to the crash on the Waihi-Whangamata road (SH25), 7km from Whangamata, at 4.30pm on Saturday.

Whangamata Fire Brigade deputy chief fire officer Jim Barker said the car and truck collided on a bend, causing the truck to overturn and lose its load.

The truck driver received only minor bruising, but the occupants of the car weren't as lucky.

The driver received serious arm injuries and was flown to Waikato Hospital by the Westpac helicopter. Last night he remained in a serious condition in Waikato Hospital's high-dependency unit.

His passenger, a 20-year-old Whitianga man, was flown in a moderate condition to Tauranga Hospital with shoulder and neck injuries.

He was discharged from Tauranga Hospital yesterday morning.

The helicopters were sent due of the nature of the accident and the distance to hospital.

The road was closed for several hours while the police Serious Crash Unit investigated the incident.

Traffic was turned back at the intersections of State Highway 25 and Gladstone Rd, and State Highway 25 and Parakiwai Quarry Rd.