A woman who was popping into town to pick up fish and chips for dinner has been airlifted to hospital after she was involved in an accident.
The 59-year-old Opotiki woman suffered serious chest injuries when her vehicle collided head-on with another vehicle on the outskirts of Te Kaha, nearOpotiki.
She was taken by the Trustpower Tauranga Energy Consumer Trust Rescue Helicopter to Tauranga Hospital in a serious condition at 5.30pm.
The occupants of the other vehicle received only minor to moderate injuries.
Helicopter pilot Liam Brettkelly said the woman's destination was only five or six minutes down the road from where she and her family were staying.
"I think they were at Schoolhouse Bay which is in the next bay north of the township," he said. "Her husband heard it happen so she must have just been leaving where they were to go and get the dinner and he said he heard the skidding and then he went running."
Mr Brettkelly said the woman was "very uncomfortable and in a lot of pain".
