Woman, 89, injured in collision with tourists

Police are investigating the cause of the collision. Photo / Trustpower TECT Rescue Helicopter

An 89-year-old woman was in hospital last night after a two-car collision in the Coromandel.

The woman suffered serious shoulder and pelvic injuries when the car she was a passenger in collided with another vehicle on Hahei Beach Rd just after 11.30am.

The woman is understood to have been travelling with her daughter into Hahei township, while the second vehicle - carrying two foreign tourists - was leaving.

A Trustpower TECT Rescue helicopter airlifted the woman to Tauranga Hospital.

Pilot Liam Brettkelly told the Weekend Herald the woman was alert at the time.

"She was talking to us, yes. When we took her to the hospital, she was alert on assessment," he said.

The woman's daughter was treated by St John at the scene and the tourists were driven to Thames Hospital with minor injuries.

Hamilton Police Senior Sergeant Juliet Burgess said it was not yet known what caused the crash and who was at fault, but that the Serious Crash Unit was investigating. "Once they've established the cause of the crash, that'll be released."

There have been a number of car accidents involving tourists in recent months - some of which have led to deaths.

"All I can say is that there were tourists involved, but I don't know at this stage what part they played," Mrs Burgess said.

Police acknowledged slippery weather may have played a part in the accident and called on motorists to be careful on the roads.

"Police request members of the public just drive to the conditions in this weather."