Diesel spill causes four crashes in less than three hours in Northland

Traffic delays on SH10 at Bulls Gorge after a series of crashes caused by a diesel spill. Photo/Peter de Graaf

There were four crashes in less than three hours after a diesel spill near Kerikeri caused cars to slide off the road and one to flip on its roof.

Senior Sergeant Brian Swann, of Mid North police, said there were four crashes between 8.10am and 10.30am yesterdayas a result of a diesel spill in the Bulls Gorge area.

The first crash saw a car slip off the road and into the ditch. This was followed by two more similar crashes at 8.24am and 8.32am.

About 10.30am a car flipped on to its roof but the driver managed to get out safely.

Mr Swann said no injuries were reported in any of the crashes.

Mr Swann said he was not sure how far the spill had stretched or what had cause it but it had caused a backlog of traffic on State Highway 10.

He said contractors were sent to the scene to lay gravel on top of the spill to stop motorists from sliding off the road.

Motorists were advised to slow down and take caution when travelling through the area.