State Highway 5 Napier-Taupō Rd crash: Four people helicoptered to hospital after smash near Waipunga

State Highway 5 was blocked near Waipunga following a serious crash.

Four people were flown to hospital by helicopter after a crash that closed the Napier-Taupō Rd near Waipunga, on the border of Bay of Plenty and Hawke’s Bay.

Emergency services, including three rescue helicopters (one each from Taupō, Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne), responded to the two-vehicle crash on State Highway 5 near Matea Rd in the Taupō district, just before 4pm on Monday.

A Hato Hone St John spokesperson said two ambulances were also sent and four people, three in serious conditions and one in a minor condition, were airlifted to Waikato Hospital.

The road was closed until about 7pm while emergency services worked at the scene between Matea Rd and Pohokura Rd. Motorists were advised at the time to expect delays and take an alternate route.