Police advice follows two crashes in Northland on a wet morning

The Rav 4 involved in a two-car crash on Western Hills Drive on a wet morning. Photo / John Stone

Two separate crashes on a wet morning in Whangārei have prompted police advice for drivers to drive to the conditions and stay alert at all times.

About 8.30am yesterday on Western Hills Drive by Mander Park, two vehicles collided side on. Initial police investigations showed the driver of one vehicle may have fallen sleep.

A Rav 4 heading south crossed the centre line and clipped a car going in the opposite direction.

The Rav 4 was being driven by a woman returning home from work while a man was the sole occupant in the other vehicle.

Both escaped unhurt although their vehicles were extensively damaged on the driver's side.

Speed and alcohol were ruled out.

Acting Sergeant Brett Steel said the driver of the Rav 4 may have fallen asleep from fatigue.

He said luckily no one was hurt because the stretch of road was often busy with all manner of vehicles, including logging trucks.

Police closed a northbound lane but not for long while the vehicles were moved to the side of the road.

Shortly after that accident, a ute heading south veered off the road and went down a bank before rolling several times in a paddock.

Steel said the sole occupant, a Whangārei man, was not hurt in the crash on State Highway 1 just north of the Mangapai Rd junction.

The ute was a write-off.

Steel said people should not let fatigue get the better of them.

"If people feel tired, they should stop their vehicles even if they are close to their destination, get out and walk around for about five minutes before carrying on."