Pregnant woman critically injured in crash

HEAD-ON COLLISION: A pregnant woman suffered what were been described as “critical” injuries this morning when the car she was a passenger in collided head-on with a ute on State Highway 35 at Wainui, near the Oneroa Road corner. Picture by Rebecca Grunwell

Traffic came to a halt on State Highway 35 near Oneroa Road at Wainui Road this morning after a head-on car crash in which a pregnant woman suffered critical injuries.

It happened at around 10am just south of the Oneroa Road corner.

The crash involved a ute with a sole occupant heading towards Gisborne and a sedan with there people in it.

Both vehicles were extensively damaged, particularly the sedan.

The pregnant woman had to be helped from that vehicle by firefighters and other emergency personnel.

“She suffered critical injuries and was transported to hospital,” a senior firefighter said.

“The other three people only had minor injuries.”

Police have started a serious crash inquiry.

The highway was closed for about an hour while the patients were cared for and the crash scene was cleared.