Crash at Paengaroa: Critical injuries and road blocked

UPDATED: 7.03am: A passenger in a car involved in a head-on collision in Paengaroa suffered serious head, chest, torso, pelvic and leg injuries in the crash.

At about 5.30pm yesterday, there was a collision between a white Toyota saloon travelling north on State Highway 33 and a silver Holden vehicle heading south.

Sergeant Mike Owen of the Western Bay of Plenty Highway Patrol said the two male occupants of the Toyota and the female occupant of the Holden were all taken to Tauranga Hospital.

The 33-year-old passenger in the Toyota suffered multiple head, chest, torso, pelvic and leg injuries and is in a critical condition.

The 27-year-old male driver of the Toyota has suffered minor leg injuries.

The 18-year-old female driver of the Holden has sustained minor head injuries.
       
Diversions were in place for about three-and-a-half hours while emergency services attended the scene.

The Police Serious Crash Unit attended and investigations are continuing into the cause of the crash.

Police would like anyone who witnessed the crash, or who saw either vehicle on SH33 around the time crash to contact Tauranga Police on 577 4300.

UPDATED 6.07pm: A man has been cut from a car with critical injuries after two cars collided head-on in Paengaroa tonight.

Two other men suffered serious injuries in the crash on State Highway 33 about 5.30pm.

SH33 is fully blocked and diversions are in place along Maniatutu Rd and SH2.

Inspector Tony Wakelin has asked for patience from motorists.

Emergency Services will be working to clear the Highway as soon as possible but warn there will be lengthy delays until the scene is clear.

EARLIER: At least one person is trapped and State Highway 33 is blocked after a head-on collision involving two cars, Police Inspector Tony Wakelin says.

Emergency services are on their way to the collision on SH33, between Allport Rd and Maungarangi Rd, Mr Wakelin said.