Drivers in dramatic smash

A 4WD was on fire and a second car badly smashed after this accident on Hatea Drive yesterday. Photo / John Stone

Two drivers involved in a dramatic smash in central Whangarei escaped unharmed.

A 4WD drive was on fire, its wheel had been ripped off and a second car was badly smashed following the crash on Hatea Drive yesterday just after 1.30pm.

Fire, ambulance and police swarmed the scene, putting out the blaze and directing traffic away. A police spokeswoman said the elderly male driver of the northbound 4WD suffered a "medical event" which caused him to cross the centre line and collide with an oncoming car.

The man was treated at the scene and was taken to hospital "as a precaution", the spokeswoman said. The female driver of the second vehicle was unhurt and was helping police after the crash.

Dozens of passersby - many of them school-aged children - stopped to take photos of the scene.

The road remained closed for about 40 minutes following the crash.