Truck and car collide on busy Whangārei road

The driver was cut free and taken to Whangārei Hospital in a serious condition. Photo/ Michael Cunningham

A driver who was cut free from his car after colliding with an empty logging truck remains in hospital and is in a stable condition.

A section of State Highway 1 through Whangārei was shut for nearly two-and-a-half hours following the crash near the intersection with Raumanga Valley Rd about 6.25am yesterday.Senior Constable Kelvin Cox said it appeared from an initial scene examination the southbound car collided with the empty logging truck which was travelling north.

Cox said the car may have been attempting to turn right into Raumanga Valley Rd.

The driver had to be cut free from the car by firefighters and was taken to Whangārei Hospital in a serious condition. He has since improved and late yesterday was reported as being in a stable condition.

A male front-seat passenger was able to free himself and was also taken to Whangārei Hospital with moderate injuries. He also remained in hospital in a stable condition.

Cox said the specialist commercial vehicle unit had inspected the logging truck on site, while the car was towed to a secure location.

Looking at the truck it appeared the car had hit the fuel tank on the righthand side and then slammed into the tyre, bending the wheel rim.

Mangonui Haulage logging manager Darren Brott confirmed a company truck was involved in the crash.

The driver was shaken up from the experience but had not been injured, he said.

He managed to bring the rig to a stop just outside the Visitor Information Centre.

A neighbour at the crash scene said he heard a loud bang and looked out the window to see the truck.

"I knew a crash had happened because the cars started to back up straight away. I couldn't see the car it was a bit further up the road."

Another resident living about 1km further down the road said he heard a loud bang and came to investigate.