Police believe driver may have blacked out at wheel

CRASH: Two men were taken to hospital after a two-car collision in Te Puke yesterday. PHOTO/GEORGE NOVAK

Two men were taken to hospital after a two-car collision on Te Puke's main road.

The crash happened about 3pm yesterday on Jellicoe St near the intersection with Oroua Rd.

Te Puke Constable Tawhai Schuster said at this stage, the police believed the driver of one of the vehicles involved in the collision had "passed out" at the wheel.

He and a passenger were travelling to Whakatane when their vehicle collided with another travelling towards Tauranga.

The driver of the other vehicle was trapped for about 40 minutes and the car had to be cut open before he could be removed into a awaiting ambulance.

Ms Schuster said both drivers appeared to have only minor injuries but had to be taken to hospital for a check-up.

The cause of the young man's passing out had to be investigated and the other driver had to be checked thoroughly to ensure there was no spinal damage.

The Tauranga-bound lane of Jellicoe St was closed while emergency services dealt with the crash, but traffic was able to use the median strip.