Four hurt in head-on crash

Four young men from this Toyota Corona were taken to hospital, including one with serous injuries. The car and a truck collided head-on in Whareora Rd, Whangarei, yesterday afternoon. Photo / John Stone

Four young men were taken to hospital after a light truck and car collided in Whangarei, in what police believe was a mixture of speed and wet weather.

Emergency services were called to the accident, on Whareora Rd about 2.30pm yesterday, after an Isuzu light truck and a Toyota Corona collided near Koromiko Lane.

Acting Sergeant Geoff Bray from Whangarei police said initial investigations indicated the two vehicles had collided head-on. Speed and the wet conditions at the time may have contributed.

"It looks like one of the vehicles lost control on the corner, crossed the centre line and collided head-on with the other. At this stage we can't say which vehicle that was," Mr Bray said.

One man had to be cut free from the car and was taken to Whangarei Hospital with serious head, chest and leg injuries, Northland Ambulance boss Tony Devanney said.

Another man from the car had moderate injuries and the other two had minor injuries, he said.

Whareora Rd was blocked for about an hour while the scene was cleared up and traffic was diverted along Harris Rd or Mt Tiger Rd.

A nearby resident said she heard a loud bang and immediately knew what had happened.

"I've lived here quite a few years and there are always accidents happening on this corner, but this is the worst I've seen. It's a 70kmh/h zone but we've been petitioning to have it reduced to 50km/h for a while," said the woman, who did not want to be named.