Woman and child badly injured in Central Hawke's Bay crash

Two fire trucks - one from Porangahau and one from Waipukurau - are also at the scene. Photo / Rachel Wise

A woman and a young child have been seriously injured after the car they were in crashed and between Waipukurau and Porangahau in Central Hawke's Bay.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand said the car left the road, ending up in a ditch on Porangahau Rd, Wallingford, between Bush Rd and Ugly Hill Rd, about 1.16pm.

The driver, a 57-year-old Central Hawke's Bay woman, was thrown from the vehicle.

A police officer at the scene said the car was travelling south towards Porangahau at the time of the crash. The driver and a 3-year-old girl who was the sole passenger in the car were flown to Hawke's Bay Hospital by rescue helicopter.

The driver is reported to be in a serious condition and the child is in a stable condition.

Porangahau Rd is closed while the Serious Crash Unit investigates the cause of the incident.

The road is expected to be open to one lane by 6pm and fully open by nightfall.

Police are appealing for witnesses who may have seen a red Ford motor vehicle southbound on Porangahau Rd before the crash. Anyone with information can phone the Police non-emergency line on 105.