Killer crash made 'one hell of a bang'

Graphic / Herald on Sunday

Three people were killed last night after a two-car smash on a highway described as one of New Zealand's "most dangerous roads".

Two others were trapped and had to be cut free before being taken to hospital with serious injuries after the crash near Te Puke in the Western Bay of Plenty just after 7pm.

"It is one of the country's most dangerous roads," said Te Puke councillor Mike Jones.

"It's a black road right through from Paengaroa to Te Puke."

Jones said the 10km stretch of State Highway 2 carried a high volume of traffic, which travelled at high-speed past a large number of intersections.

Work on a new highway the Government has labelled a priority is due to start in the next decade.

Henry Harte, who lives 150m from the accident scene, called 111 after hearing a "big bang" outside his house. "It was one hell of a bang. It sounded like one of those big steel bin trailers tipping over."

He said traffic quickly backed up for almost 2km along the highway.

"It's a dangerous bend there."

Efforts to free those trapped caused long delays, with police advising motorists to avoid the area.

Matt Puata, who lives about 250m from the crash scene, said he was relaxing at home with family when they heard a loud bang. "We knew straight away it was a car smash."

He went to the highway to see if he could help. "There were three cars blocking the highway - one was pretty mangled."

Tauranga MP Simon Bridges said the new Eastern Highway was an "absolute priority" for local MPs and councils. It was expected to cost about $500m - one of the country's most expensive roading projects.

"This year National said the eastern corridor is one of the roads of national significance. It will divert a lot of traffic, bring economic growth and it will have a significant safety impact."

It was unknown last night whether the cars involved in the accident had all been travelling along State Highway 2, or whether one had turned out of Pah Rd into traffic.

Western Bay of Plenty councillor Paul Thomas said the corner where the accident took place was an awkward intersection. He said the roads were probably slippery after rain during the day.

"It's a shocking accident and I'm very sorry that it has happened," he said. "As you go around the corner there it's an awkward intersection, and there's a railway line that runs through there so people generally tend to slow down."

Meanwhile, a woman has been charged with drink driving causing death and failing to stop after a crash in Invercargill.

Michelle Katherine Grace, 39, was killed when a Nissan Terrano 4WD collided with her Ford Telstar at the intersection of Queens Drive and Gala St in Invercargill on Friday night.

The Nissan driver appeared in Invercargill District Court yesterday and was released on bail to reappear later this month.

Acting Senior Sergeant Mark Lucas appealed for witnesses.

Grace worked in the youth justice team at the Invercargill branch of Child Youth and Family.

Shocked workmate Daryl Batchelor said "she was a great person".

"We drove past the accident last night and didn't realise it was her."

Invercargill CYF manager Dawn Lloyd said Grace cared about her clients and colleagues. "She's one of life's special people."