Head-on smash puts top cop in intensive care

Both drivers had to be cut from their cars after the collision near Te Puke. Photo / Sam Ackland

A senior policewoman was seriously hurt in a head-on smash yesterday.

Senior Sergeant Deirdre Lack, 40, officer in charge of Te Puke police, was taken to Tauranga Hospital after the crash on State Highway 2 north of Te Puke about 4.45am.

She underwent surgery on multiple fractures to her limbs and was last night in intensive care in a stable condition.

The driver of the other car in the crash, Daniel Longney, from Te Puke, was also taken to hospital.

His grandfather, Lionel Longney, said the 19-year-old was waiting for surgery last night.

"He's pretty beaten up," he said. "His legs are both broken and damaged and he has some internal bleeding."

Deirdre Lack's mother, Robin Lack, from Rotorua, said her daughter had eight hours of surgery.

"It's terrible. It's the last thing you'd ever want to happen to one of your babies. She may be 40, but she's still my baby."

She said her daughter was a top triathlete and trained every day.

"She will be so upset when she wakes up and sees her legs are broken and she can't compete any more. She'll just have to change her whole lifestyle.

"But I know her - she'll have a positive attitude."

The Western Bay of Plenty police area commander, Inspector Mike Clement, said: "This was a serious crash and its effects will be felt by communities across the Bay of Plenty, but particularly by those in the Te Puke community and within our police family.

"Deirdre is a popular and well-regarded member of the local Te Puke community as well as within police."

A senior police officer from outside the region would investigate the crash.

Te Puke Volunteer Fire Brigade chief Glenn Williams said the two vehicles involved in the crash came to rest about 75m from each other. It took at least 30 minutes to free the drivers.

Mr Williams said all the firefighters knew Ms Lack. He spoke to her in the vehicle a few times and when her partner arrived at the scene, the fire chief sat him in the back of her car to comfort her.

"She was in a lot of pain, but she was aware because she asked if anyone had called her mother."

Western Bay Mayor Ross Paterson was shocked to learn Ms Lack had been involved.

"It's a tragic accident, especially at this time of year for Deirdre, right before Christmas. She is a person whom Te Puke has a lot of respect for."

- APN, staff reporter