Male driver critical after crash near Tauranga, one dead after single-car crash in Otaki

The crash happened on Pyes Pa Rd, near Tauranga. Image / Google Maps

The male driver of a car which rolled on Pyes Pa Rd this morning has been rushed to Tauranga Hospital with critical injuries, and his passenger was in a serious condition.

And another person has died overnight after a single-car crash in Otaki.

The car rolled about 4.35am on State Highway 36, near the Pyes Pa Rd roundabout and the female passenger was seriously injured, a police communication spokeswoman said.

One person was trapped in the car and had to be extricated, police earlier said.

Officers were still at the scene 8.45am and the stretch of highway between Joyce Rd and Merrick Rd was closed while the Serious Crash Unit examines the scene, she said.

A police communication spokeswoman also said it was not known how long this stretch of highway will be closed.

A tweet from the Transport Agency said a detour was in place.

St John Ambulance also attended the incident and transported the two patients to Tauranga Hospital.

SH36 PYES PA, TAURANGA - SERIOUS CRASH - 6:10AM
Due to a serious #crash, SH36 is CLOSED between Joyce Rd and the Pyes Pa Road roundabout. Please follow the detour and allow extra time for your journey. ^EL pic.twitter.com/lMZznmrh9E

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Waikato/BoP (@WakaKotahiWaiBP) February 1, 2019

Further south, a person has died after the car they were in collided with a power pole in Otaki, around 7.15pm yesterday.

A rescue helicopter was dispatched to the scene, but the person died on the way to hospital.

The patient was the only person in the vehicle.

The serious crash unit is investigating.