Man fighting for life in hospital after serious crash on Hawke's Bay Expressway

The two-vehicle crash happened about 7.30pm on the Hawke's Bay Expressway near the Watchman Rd roundabout. Photo / NZME

Two men remained in Hawke's Bay Hospital late on Friday, one of them fighting for his life, after a serious crash on the outskirts of Napier that closed part of a major road for four hours.

The two-vehicle crash occurred about 7.30pm on Thursday on the Hawke's Bay Expressway, State Highway 2, near its intersection with Watchman Rd in Napier.

Police initially said one person had been seriously hurt, but on Friday morning a police spokeswoman said two people were in hospital.

A Te Whatu Ora - Hawke's Bay spokeswoman said the two injured were both men in their 20s.

One was in a critical condition in intensive care on Friday afternoon, the other was stable in a ward.

The northbound lane of the expressway was closed until roughly 11.30pm on Thursday while emergency services responded.

The Serious Crash Unit attended and conducted a scene examination.

A police spokeswoman said inquiries into the circumstances of the crash were ongoing.

She clarified there was no police pursuit prior to the crash.