Two in hospital after crash near Kaitaia

An elderly man and a young woman are in the intensive care unit of Whangarei Hospital after their cars collided head-on on the northern outskirts of Kaitaia on Saturday evening.

Both were trapped in their vehicles following the crash on North Rd at 4.55pm. Firemen used the jaws-of-life to free them.

A seven-year-old girl in the woman's car sustained minor injuries, police said.

The three were taken to Kaitaia Hospital by ambulance before the man and woman were transferred to Whangarei Hospital by rescue helicopter.

The man was yesterday in a critical condition and the woman in a serious but stable condition, a hospital spokesperson said.

Police inquiries are continuing.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)