Man pleads not guilty to six charges following serious Hastings crash

Police urged witnesses to contact them on 105. Photo / Dean Purcell

A 26-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to six charges related to a two-vehicle crash on Pakowhai Rd that left a woman in hospital with serious injuries.

On Monday the man appeared in Hastings District Court on charges including two counts of reckless driving causing injury, escaping from custody and possession of a drug utensil.

He was remanded in custody to reappear on January 14.

Emergency services were called to the scene of the crash at Pakowhai Rd at 6.27pm on Sunday, and a section between Farndon Rd and Te Ara Kahikatea was closed until around midnight.

A Hawke's Bay District Health Board spokeswoman said the woman, who is in her 40s, remained in a serious condition in hospital on Monday morning, while a woman in her 20s was discharged yesterday.

A St John spokeswoman said one ambulance attended the scene.

Police said they encouraged anyone who witnessed the collision to contact them on the non-emergency number 105.