Wrong-way crash: 'A needless loss of life'

File photo / NZ Herald

A woman whose vehicle was hit head-on by another travelling the wrong way on Auckland's southern motorway on Friday morning has died.

Karen Yin Yong, 49, of Mount Wellington, died at Auckland Hospital surrounded by family after her life support was switched off.

Ms Yong's car was hit by another vehicle travelling the wrong way on the southern motorway about 12.40am on Friday.

The crash happened after a vehicle entered the Mt Wellington off-ramp and headed south on the wrong side of the motorway.

The female driver drove for 5km, swerving past a number of vehicles, before crashing into a northbound vehicle at East Tamaki.

Both drivers were critically injured.

Senior Constable Karl Bevin of the Waitemata Serious Crash Unit said on Friday that was believed that alcohol was a factor in the crash.

Today he said: "It's a tough pill for the family to swallow and this was a needless loss of life".

The crash was still being investigated.