Crash closes Whangarei Heads Rd

Most motorists were well behaved on Northland roads over Labour Weekend. PHOTO/File

Four people were taken to hospital after a head-on collision between two cars on Whangarei Heads Rd in one of the more serious road incidents over the long weekend.

On impact, one car plunged off the shoulder of the road and crashed onto its side in a paddock about 2pm yesterday.

The crash, near Grahamtown Rd between Onerahi and Waikaraka, caused traffic diversions through Glenbervie and Mt Tiger Rd while the road remained closed.

Both cars had a driver and another occupant who were all taken to Whangarei Hospital by ambulance, with one person reported to be in a serious condition.

Northland Police Serious Crash Unit is investigating the incident. In another crash near Kaihu about 2.30pm yesterday three adults and a child were in a car that rolled over the road into a paddock. Only the child suffered minor injuries.

Northland police traffic boss Inspector Wayne Ewers said while there had been a huge rise in the volume of traffic heading south yesterday a majority of motorists had behaved. However, he said there were the idiots.

An off duty officer heading south early on Sunday morning was nearly clipped by an oncoming motorist who was allegedly speeding and over the legal alcohol limit.

The driver claimed to have celebrated the All Black win in Rotorua, had stopped for a beer in Auckland and was on his way to Kerikeri when he allegedly veered across the centre line just north of Oakleigh.

He will be appearing in court on an excess breath alcohol charge after blowing 590 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. He would also have to pay a fine after being clocked at 112km/h.

At edition time Northland had remained fatality free for the long weekend.