Fatal crash involving bus and motorcycle on State Highway 1 Auckland’s Northern Motorway, near Dairy Flat

The northbound lanes of SH1 at Dairy Flat are closed due to a serious crash. Photo / NZTA

A section of Auckland’s Northern Motorway has reopened overnight after a fatal crash involving a bus on Monday afternoon. One person died in the crash, understood to have involved the bus and a motorcyclist - it was one of four serious crashes that killed three people and left two others critically injured in New Zealand yesterday.

Emergency services were called to the scene of the bus crash on State Highway 1 near Dairy Flat about 4.30pm yesterday.

The motorway was still closed late last night but was no longer on Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s list of road closures as of early this morning. Traffic cameras showed flowing traffic on SH1 Dairy Flat at 5.30am.

The crash caused traffic chaos on SH1, with officials being forced to close the Northern Motorway between the Oteha Valley Rd off-ramp and Silverdale.

Waka Kotahi’s last update last night - at 8pm - said no bus stops would be missed, but people should expect minor delays.

FINAL UPDATE: 8:00 PM - State Highway 1 remains closed. NX1, NX2, 126 and 986 will continue the detour via Oteha Valley and East Coast Road to Silverdale Bus Station until the highway is open. No bus stops will be missed but please expect minor delays. https://t.co/BGLUzpiwBK pic.twitter.com/TiPrBO8OOt

— Auckland Transport Travel Alerts (@AT_TravelAlerts) February 20, 2023

Waka Kotahi had been asking motorists to detour to the East Coast or Dairy Flat highway and to expect delays. There were also delays in the southbound lane as emergency services assisted at the crash site.

Three dead in separate crashes

The incident was one of three fatal road crashes yesterday.

Emergency services were called to SH2 in Whakamārama, near Tauranga, after reports of a single-vehicle crash shortly before 11am. One person died as a result of the crash.

One person also died in another single-vehicle crash on Otapiri Rd, in Otapiri, Southland, about 3pm. Police said the victim died at the scene and the road had been closed, with diversions in place.

Two critically injured

Emergency services personnel at the road crash where a car caught fire in Puni, near Pukekohe. Photo / Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust

Meanwhile, three people were injured - two critically - after their car crashed and burst into flames in Puni, south of Auckland, on Monday afternoon.

Police said they were called to the crash on Rogers Rd about 3.30pm.

One person involved in the crash was outside the car when it went up in flames. Bystanders helped carry the person down the road to safety.

A helicopter, several fire engines and ambulances were on the scene, and the police serious crash unit was also there, according to a witness.

A teenage girl was flown to Middlemore Hospital in critical condition, a spokesperson for Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust said.

One other person was also airlifted to hospital in critical condition, and another was taken to hospital in a moderate condition via ambulance.