Two people seriously hurt following crash near Whakatāne

Two people have been seriously injured after a car rolled on State Highway 2 east of Whakatāne near Tāneatua.

Police were called to the crash in Tāneatua at 2.10pm today. Two people were seriously injured.

A police media spokeswoman said a third person fled the scene to get help but returned a short time later.

She said initial reports to police that a third person had fled the scene were incorrect.

No diversions were required as emergency services only closed one lane to clear the wreckage.

A St John Ambulance spokeswoman said the patients had been taken to Whakatāne Hospital but she was unable to confirm their ages or genders.