Five injured in bike accidents

Photo / Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter Crew

Five people have been injured in bike accidents today, including two young boys who were seriously injured in a motocross crash.

The Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was called about 6pm after the boys, aged 12 and 8, crashed at the Taupo motocross track earlier in the day.

Pilot Dan Harcourt said the older boy, from Auckland, suffered an upper leg fracture while the younger boy, from Rotorua, had a suspected spinal injury.

Both boys and one of their mothers were flown to Waikato Hospital.

"The Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was used on this occasion due to its ability to carry two stretchered patients at the same time," Mr Harcourt said.

Earlier today, Hawkes Bay rescuers were called to a trail bike crash at Kereru, west of Hastings, about 12.45pm.

The Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter service said a 50-year-old man suffered back and head injuries after going through a ditch and into a fence post.

The helicopter was then called to Eskdale, north of Napier, after a 19-year-old man fell from his mountain bike on a remote track about 2pm.

He suffered chest and rib injuries and had to be winched on to the helicopter.

The rescue service was then called back to Kereru, where a 13-year-old boy fell from his motorbike on a different part of the trail bike course about 3.45pm.

The boy suffered chest and rib injuries.

All three patients were flown to Hawke's Bay Regional Hospital for further treatment.