Early horror hour leaves five in hospital

Speed and alcohol are believed to be factors in a crash which has left a man fighting for his life, police say.

The crash, on Blake St in Waitara, was one of three serious accidents in one horrific hour yesterday morning, which left five people in hospital.

New Plymouth police said three men in their mid-20s were in a car that hit a truck and trailer unit parked on the suburban street just before 5am. The driver suffered serious head injuries and was in Taranaki Base Hospital's intensive care unit. His passengers were also taken by ambulance to the hospital with moderate to serious injuries.

The men had travelled just 100m when the crash took place, police said.

"Speed and alcohol are believed to have been involved and the serious crash unit is investigating," a police spokesman said.

Three people were also in a crash half an hour earlier on Whareora Rd, near Whangarei. A 28-year-old female passenger had to be cut from a car after it spun and collided rear-first into a power pole. The woman, who was trapped by her badly broken leg, was taken by ambulance to Whangarei Hospital. Two men were uninjured. Police are investigating who was driving and charges are likely.

And a man believed to be an Auckland Council worker was also hurt when his van crashed into a power pole at the intersection of Khyber Pass Rd and Symonds St about 5.30am. The sole occupant, who had a broken leg, had to be cut from the wreckage.