SH36 between Tauranga and Rotorua reopened after crash

Update: A 30-year-old Rotorua man has life-threatening head injuries after a crash this morning.

The motorcyclist and another vehicle collided on Ngongotaha Rd about 5.45am.

St John Lakes area territorial manager Hilary MorrishAllen said the man was taken to Rotorua Hospital with life threatening injuries. She said they were mainly head injuries.

He was the only patient treated at the scene.

Senior Sergeant Mike Membery said police were still investigating the cause of the crash.

Earlier:

A stretch of Ngongotaha Rd has now reopened following a serious crash this morning.

Diversions were put in place after the stretch of road was closed between Western Rd and Kokiri St to allow police to carry out a scene investigation.

The road has now reopened and a reporter at the scene said traffic was flowing normally.

Earlier:

Police are currently carrying out a scene examination on Ngongotaha Rd, Rotorua in relation to a serious vehicle crash.

Police Northern Communications Centre Inspector Ian Brooker said a call to emergency services was made at 5.46am after a service truck and a motorcyclist collided.

A man on the motorcycle had received serious injuries, he said.

The Serious Crash Unit was in attendance at the scene.

Mr Brooker said police were currently speaking to people involved with the accident to attain more details as to what happened.

Ngongotaha Rd was currently closed between Western Rd and Kokiri St. Diversions around the crash scene are in place via Western Rd and SH5.

It is expected the diversions would be in place for the next two hours.

The NZ Transport Agency also advised motorists that SH36 (between Tauranga and Rotorua) was closed this morning due to the serious crash.

A detour was in place via Western Rd and SH5 for southbound traffic. Northbound traffic is being detoured via SH5.