Truck crash halts traffic to Tauranga for an hour

A crash involving two trucks and two cars held up traffic on State Highway 2 near Te Puna for almost an hour.

Police and St John staff were called to the crash on State Highway 2 near Loop Rd about 3.10pm yesterday.

Constable Peter Pickering said a Linfox truck heading for Tauranga appeared to have crossed the centre line and clipped a smaller truck and trailer as it attempted to avoid disaster.

The smaller truck, heading in the opposite direction, lost control and ended up jackknifed across the road pointing in the opposite direction.

The crash caused a subsequent nose-to-tail accident between two cars behind the truck, Mr Pickering said.

The Tauranga-bound lane was blocked for almost an hour and traffic was backed up past Te Mete Rd.

Nearby resident Haerata Borell said she heard "a big bang and then it sounded like things were flying off the road".

St John staff took one person to hospital to be checked, Mr Pickering said.