Motorcyclist critically injured after SH1 crash

A motorcyclist has been critically injured after crashing on State Highway 1 in peak-hour traffic north of Auckland this evening.

The motorcyclist crashed on the northern motorway between Silverdale and the Orewa off-ramp to Grand Drive about 5pm.

Inspector Shawn Rutene, of the police northern communications centre, said the motorcyclist was in a critical condition.

"I don't know whether he hit the wire (dividing the motorways) or another car," Mr Rutene told NZPA.

"But there's a lot of debris all over the place."

Mr Rutene said both lanes of the motorway had been cordoned off. Traffic travelling in both directions has been diverted.

"So far the traffic seems to be okay," Mr Rutene said.

- NZPA