Van with cash crashes near Kaitaia

Police stayed with an Amourguard van full of cash for about four hours after it crashed off the road following a collision with a truck carrying gas bottles near Kaitaia.

The crash happened on Larmers Rd, just south of Kaitaia about 11am yesterday.

Police said a ute and the Armourguard van collided causing both vehicles to end up in the ditch. No one was injured.

However, police said, because of the precious nature of the cargo in the Amourguard van they remained at the scene until it was towed out clear of the ditch and continued on it's way south to Whangarei.

Police were investigating and charges may be laid.

The amount of cash in the van was unknown and Armourguard was approached for comment, but had not responded by edition time yesterday.

At about the same time as the Kaitaia crash a cyclist on Waipu Cove Rd, near Langs Beach, was hit by a van travelling in the opposite direction.

The cyclist was transported to Auckland Hospital by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter with critical injuries.

The specialist police Serious Crash Unit attended the scene and were investigating.

A police spokeswoman said there was no further information at this stage.