R
A 72-year-old man is in Tauranga Hospital with serious injuries after a truck and motorhome collided on Te Puke Highway yesterday.
The crash happened about 9.40am between Rangiuru and Pah Rds, blocking that section of highway for more than five hours.
The crash scene was about 250m from the intersection with Rangiuru Rd.
Northern fire communications shift manager Megan Ruru earlier said one person from the motorhome was seriously injured and attended to by St John Ambulance staff at the scene.
A St John Ambulance spokeswoman said a 55-year-old man had been taken to Tauranga Hospital in a critical condition.
The man's condition was unknown last night.
Three fire engines also attended the crash.
Extensive road diversions were put in place, and the highway only reopened at 3pm.
Two residents, including a man who said he was three paddocks away from the crash site when he heard an "almighty loud bang".
"I was too far away to see the crash, but I saw what was either a lot of dust or smoke rising in the air from around that location," he said.
Another local man said he too heard a huge bang from at least 400m to 500m away.
"It was a hell of a noise, and when I ran up to the road, I could see quite a few vehicles parked up and lots people were running up to see what they could do to help the truck driver and the person in the motorhome.
"It was a bit of a frantic scene at first until police arrived," he said.
The Serious Crash Unit was still investigating the cause of the crash last night.
Test your brains with the Herald's morning quiz.