Minor crash sparks hour-long congestion on SH2

Emergency services direct traffic after a crash on Fraser St. Photo/Andrew Warner

A minor crash on the outskirts of Tauranga caused delays of more than an hour on one of the region's busiest highways.

The crash at 9.10am yesterday involved a car and logging truck.

A motorcyclist is attended to by St John staff at the SH29/36 roundabout after a crash with a car. Photo/John Borren

A police communications spokeswoman said no one was seriously hurt and both vehicles were parked to the side of the highway, between Te Paeroa Rd and Wairoa Pa Rd.

However, traffic slowing down as they passed the vehicles caused heavy congestion that did not dissipate until at least an hour later.

When the Bay of Plenty Times arrived at the scene traffic was heavy and crawling along the highway.

About 12.35pm a motorcyclist was injured after a collision with a car at the intersection of State Highway 29 and SH36.

The motorcyclist had come off the bike and firefighters were helping police manage traffic as ambulance staff treated the rider.

Minutes later a truck and car crashed on Fraser St, near Lloyd St.

Fire communications shift manager Jaron Philips said firefighters worked to cut the occupants free.

At 4pm a cyclist was taken to hospital by ambulance after crashing trying to avoid a car making a left turn into Michael Way on Waihi Rd in Tauranga.

Police at the scene of the 4pm crash opposite the Jonathon St intersection said the cyclist's injuries did not appear to be serious.

A police officer said the cyclist and the car were heading in the same direction towards Bethlehem on a downhill section of Waihi Rd when the car made the left turn.

Traffic flowed around the partly blocked road while St John paramedics attended the injured cyclist and police dealt with the scene of the crash.